Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday celebrated India’s Sufi traditions, citing the inclusiveness and syncretic nature of stalwarts akin to Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro to say that it mirrored India’s wealthy and numerous heritage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a gathering at Jahan-e-Khusrau, the Sufi music pageant, held at Sunder Nursery in New Delhi. (PTI)
Talking on the twenty fifth anniversary of the annual Sufi music pageant, Jahan-e-Khusrau, in Delhi, Modi wished residents on the start of the holy month of Ramzan and underlined his file as Gujarat chief minister in restoring the western state’s major nodes of Sufi custom, particularly the Sarkhej Roza.
“In India, Sufi traditions have made a name for themselves. Sufi seers didn’t limit themselves to mosques… if they read the holy Quran, they also read the Vedas. They added the sweetness of Bhakti songs to Azaan,” he mentioned at an occasion in south Delhi’s Sunder Nursery.
“Sufi music is our shared heritage, we have lived it together,” he added.
The Prime Minister, in his 15-minute deal with, mentioned that Sarkhej Roza – a Sufi mosque and tomb advanced close to Ahmedabad – was restored to its current glory in Gujarat when he was the chief minister. He added that Krishnotsav was celebrated with a lot fanfare there and the Nazar-e-Krishna efficiency at Jahan-e-Khsrau reminded him of it.
He reminisced about Khusrau’s verses on heaven on earth, calling India part of that imaginative and prescient, the place numerous cultures have thrived.
“There is something special in the soil of this country, which is why when the Sufi culture came to India, it connected with its own soil. This is the land of Baba Farid’s tranquillity, Hazrat Nizamuddin’s festivities and Hazrat Amir Khusrau’s verses… The language, style and words may be different, but the message is the same,” he mentioned.
Modi emphasised how Sufi and classical Indian music merged to provide religious greats akin to Khusrau, Farid, Guleshan, Mir, Kabir, Rahim and Raskhan, all of whom propagated religious love amongst folks.
“Raskhan was a Muslim who worshipped Krishna. He said that love and ‘Hari’ are the same as Sun and sunshine. Khusrau said the same in his verses… He said that the feelings of difference can be overcome only by immersing yourself in love,” Modi mentioned.
He additionally recalled invoking Rumi in his 2015 speech on the Afghanistan parliament, reiterating his verses as a mirrored image of India’s ideology of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world as one household.
Because the solar set right into a vibrant orange, briefly giving technique to a light-weight drizzle, performers on the pageant enthralled the viewers on the primary day of the three-day Jahan-e-Khusrau pageant at Sunder Nursery.
Modi lauded their dedication, acknowledging the climate’s challenges.
In the course of the pageant, Modi additionally visited the TEH Bazaar (The Exploration of the Handmade), which has been arrange for the primary time that includes merchandise by native artisans in addition to handicrafts from One District-One Product in Uttar Pradesh. Over the three days, artists from throughout the nation will showcase people and classical performances together with, Sanjukta Sinha dance firm, Jasu Khan Manganiyar, Malini Awasthi, Warsi brothers, Kanwar Grewal, Manjari Chaturvedi, and Satinder Sartaj amongst others. “Before watching the the performances, I visited the TEH Bazaar and met some old friends in Bagh-e-Firdaus,” he mentioned.
“The performances Nazar-e-Krishna were mesmerising, especially with the challenges due to the weather and the limitations of the mike and other equipment. Despite the restrictions, the artists performed in sync with nature. Though they and the audience may have been a bit disappointed, sometimes such situations teach us big life lessons. I believe today would be one such occasion,” he mentioned.
Established in 2001 below the steerage of the Rumi Basis, Jahan-e-Khusrau is a three-day cultural pageant designed and directed by Muzaffar Ali and was the pioneer in presenting Sufi music in India. Taking part international locations embody the US, Canada, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, Tunisia, Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In addition to Delhi, Jahan-e-Khusrau has additionally been organised in Jaipur, Patna, Lucknow Srinagar, Boston, and London.
At Sunder Nursery, Modi additionally remembered Prince Karim Aga Khan for his contribution to creating the world and referred to as it “a boon for lakhs of art and culture enthusiasts”.
He concluded with a verse from Ghalib, noting that the space between Kashi (India) and Kashan (Iran) is half a step, which he mentioned, is an enormous message on this planet that’s grappling with division and struggle.