Music transcends boundaries and touches the soul in the most surreal ways. It is the thread that binds people from across the globe, weaving its magic with every note. This has been the very purpose of The Sacred Spirit Festival, an annual musical event held at the majestic Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Presented by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, Jodhpur, this three-day musical extravaganza offers a platform to artists from India and across the globe, to create a melodic tapestry of folk, Sufi, and classical music in the ethereal surroundings of the fort. Held between 23rd and 25th February this year, the festival was an eclectic mix of musicians. From renowned local folk artists like Mukhtiyar Ali and Padma Shri awardee Anwar Khan to the sarod maestros Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awardee Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, and Padma Shri awardee Shubha Mudgal. Find out more about this soul-stirring musical experience held every year in the Blue City of Rajasthan.
Folk traditions reign supreme in Rajasthan, with vibrant narratives of love and devotion woven into its music, reflecting its resplendent spirit and rich heritage. Jodhpur pulsated with soulful harmonies and rhythmic beats at the festival. Sardar Khan from the Barnawa village of Rajasthan brought alive the Langa musical traditions with the delicate Sindhi Sarangi, while Mukhtiyar Ali, the renowned folk singer of the Mirasi community of Bikaner, enthralled the audience with his renditions of ‘Afreen Afreen’ and ‘Aaj Rang De’ amongst many other enchanting songs. Bringing Sindhi Sufi folk music to the audience were Pape Khan and Delawar Khan, while Anwar Khan struck a chord with the rustic Mangniyar folk tunes.
With hypnotic tunes and soulful chants, sufi music transports listeners to a realm of divine love and inner contemplation. Igniting this spark of the spirit was bard Madan Gopal Singh with his band Chaar Yaar Ensemble. They created magic at the Chokhelao gardens, giving melody to the mystical and timeless poetry of Rumi, Shah Husain, Sultan Bahu, and Baba Bulle Shah, merging it with Bob Dylan and John Lenon’s compositions. Shubha Mudgal, a vocalist known for her nuanced renditions, brought to life the grand setting of Zenana Deodi courtyard with her lyrical luminosity as she sang songs of divine love. Captivating the audience was the Baul song and dance performance by the world-renowned Parvathy Baul, a practitioner, performer, and teacher of the Baul tradition from Bengal. Her riveting performance of love for the divine with the beats of the duggi and ektara kept the crowds in a trance.
The haunting melodies of ancient ragas echoed throughout the city as virtuoso musicians weaved profound expressions and intricate harmonies through their music. The main highlights were based on the theme “Fathers to Sons,” where Mohan Veena maestro Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt performed with his son Salil and grandson Ankit, while celebrated Indian classical flautist and shehnai artist Pandit Rajendra Prasanna along with his sons Rajesh, Rishabh, and Ritesh took the audiences on a celestial odyssey through the language of timeless melodies. The showstoppers were sarod artists Ayaan Ali Bangash and Amaan Ali Bangash, the sons of the illustrious Sarod master, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. They combined folk music from Rajasthan and Bengal, taking listeners into the depths of classical excellence and spiritual transcendence.
The Sacred Spirit Festival is a testament to cultural unity and artistic collaboration with musicians from all over the world, bringing their unique flavours to the event. Adding a global touch to this musical bonanza were Eleman Kanybekov and Kamuz Aibek Kanybekov from Kyrgyzstan playing playful notes on the Komuz, a nomadic lute, while Ilyas Arabov from Uzbekistan accompanied them on the Dutar. Maestro Pedro Javier Gonzalez, a Spanish flamenco guitarist and composer, transported the crowds to the vibrant cobblestone alleys of Spain, while Cherif Mbaw from Senegal had everyone foot-tapping to African beats. The last evening saw Tibetan artist, Lobsang Chonzor performing the traditional Tibetan dance on the Rajasthani dhol and the grand performance of mystic dervishes from Egypt, who lit up the stage with the Sufi Whirling Dance of the Nile. Their flowing white garments created hypnotic visual poetry.
As the echoes of the final notes faded with the sunrise performance of folk artists from Rajasthan in the serene setting of Jaswant Thada; the Sacred Spirit Festival left behind a shared celebration of music, melodies, and musings. Until next time!
The Information
What: The Sacred Spirit Festival
Where: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan