LAHORE: Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop on Tuesday announced holding its annual Mystic Music Sufi Festival 2009 from April 30 to May 2.
Talking to reporters, the Peerzada brothers said this was the 6th annual Sufi Festival organised by Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop. The festival brings with it a rich variety of Sufi music from across the country. Performers from all four provinces will take part in the festival and over 300 artists will perform. “Through the Sufi Festival, we look forward to highlighting the cultural and traditional warmth and wisdom of Sufi poetry,” said Faizan Peerzada. “We are hopeful that such festivals will bless all of us with tolerance, wisdom and a light leading to a new direction,” he added.
THURSDAY APRIL 30
Sher Maindad Qawal
Goonga and Mithu
Sain Zahoor
Zar Sanga
Mehboob Farid Qawal
Fakir Abdul Wahid Jamali
Allah Ditta Loney Wallah
FRIDAY MAY 1
Iqbal Bahoo
Goonga and Mithu
Akthar Chinar Zahari
Taj Mastani
Shah Jo Raag
Ghulam Chand
Nazir, Ejaz Faridy Qawal
Sanam Marvi
Akber Khemesu Khan and Assumable
SATURDAY MAY 2
Gogi Naseer Butt
Mansoor Malangi
Papu Sain
Surriya Khanam
Imran Aziz Qawal
Sain Zahoor
Jamalud Din Fakir
Suryia Multanikar
Abida Parveen
Wonderful. Hats off to the Rafi Peer group.
Our group, which is called Contemporary Lovers of Mevlana Rumi, was founded in 1987 and since then we are producing Sufi Music and presenting the Sema Ceremony.
In the early 1980’s many seekers of the Truth had begun to congregate around Hasan Dede in whom they found the scent of love and tolerance of Mevlana. As with Mevlana, Hasan Dede calls people to him without regard for nationality, religion or gender.
Hasan Dede carries on the spirit of reform and love of Mohammed and Mevlana Rumi. He speaks to the situations of today. Hasan Dede has included women in the choir and public Sema Ceremony along with men. Throughout history there was cultural and religious pressure which made it necessary for women to hold their Sema separately. Today women and men work in every occupation together, ride busses and trains together, and perform the rites of the pilgrimage together. Thus the Sema is an appropriate place for them to worship together. In God’s Eyes men and women are one.
The Contemporary Lovers of Mevlana, the name of our congregation, is a Lay Brotherhood of men and women under the guidance of Hasan Dede, striving to live according to the way of love, peace, brotherhood and unity which our patron saint Mevlana Rumi taught and lived himself. Just as all the prophets brought their message to people without discrimination, we continue that by offering Mevlana’s way to all people, with love and affection. Contemporary Lovers of Mevlana are getting invitations from all around the world to present Sufi/Mystic Concerts and the Sema Ceremony. We have carried the love and the philosophy of Mevlana to USA, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Austria, Greece, Japan and to many other countries with our Sema Ceremonies and Sufi Music.
If you would like to know more about us, please don’t hesitate to visit our website, http://www.emav.org
Thank you very much for your attenion and interest,
With kindest regards,
EMAV—THE FOUNDATION OF UNIVERSAL LOVERS OF MEVLANA
The Contemporary Lovers of Mevlana Rumi