A folksy night at the Sufi Fest Dhaka

The Army Museum ground was reverberating with music and beaming with lights as the performances of second night began at the Sufi Fest 2015. It was Bangladeshi band Shikor, comprising Rob Fakir, Shafi Mondal and Beby Dewan, who opened the show with an instrumental of Lalon's “Milon Hobey Koto Diney”.

Then Rob Fakir rendered “Saddho Kirey Amar Sherup Chinitey” followed by Baby Dewan's “Tora Ke Jabi Babar Dorbar-e”. They continued to present Lalon songs one by one taking the audience on a ride through mysticism.

Shafi Mondal in his element.

Aside from songs, Shafi Mondal gave brief lectures on their songs and essence of Sufism. He then presented the beautiful track “Ami Mon Mondirey Puja Debo” that preaches a universal religion. They closed their presentation with the choral rendition of “Anonder Bajarey”.

Then Arko Mukherjee came on the stage. The Kolkata-based singer enthralled the crowd with his soulful, striking renditions of mystic songs. Arko introduced the audience with Sufism and his music. His accompanist Satyoki Banerjee, multitalented instrumentalist, was no less on the backing vocals. Arko began with “Oi Moha Shindhur O paar Theke”, a DL Roy song. Satyoki and Arko excelled with the number “Jab Ud Jayega Dard Ka Daman”. Arko then rendered Abdul Alim's “Duarey Aishache Palki” followed by a French song and “Khaja Baba” as a tribute to Nizamuddin Awliya.

Later, Egyptian Sufi music troupe Mawlawyiah came on the stage to mesmerize the audience with their music and Sufi-style whirling dances. Their use of Middle-Eastern folk instruments added a new dimension to the ambiance.

Noted Indian Ghazal singer Munnawar Masoom concluded the show. He opened his performance with “Mawla Ali”, set on Raga Yaman, and presented a number of Ghazal and Sufi songs.

The festival closed last night with performances by Gaurob (Bangladesh), Serenas (Denmark), Zik'R (Spain) and the show-stopper, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (Pakistan).