Sufi Sutra brought about a convergence of ideas about truth, harmony, self belief and peace through the common language of music, song and dance. Sufi Sutra  was a peace concert  pledging to establish a closer collaboration among nations, greater understanding between diverse cultural traditions, creating music transcending physical barriers and bring about a reunion of soul through the language of the heart..

The aim of Sufi Sutra was

Alam -e- Sufiana

The Sufi ka Alam  or a Sufi ambience started settling in the city quite a few days prior to the main event. The nip in the air was so much present ,the Kolkata book fair had already set the mood to look forward to some real musical rendezvous. The Sufi magic started happening with eye catching billboards, moving kiosks, newspaper publications and Press conferences.

The Press conference held at Kolkata Club was a curtain raiser with the Mir Musicians of Bikaner giving the first dekko of their performance and also sharing the stage with the Bengal Bauls and Fakirs.

The conference was attended by representatives of all leading news publications as well as television channels like Hindustan Times,Times Of India,Indian Express,Ananda Bazar patrika,The Statesman,The Telegraph,Bartaman, as well as television channels like Akash Bangla,Kolkata Tv, Mohua Khabar and Chobbish Ghonta to name a few

As the strains of Bullah Ki Jana Main Kaun, Mera Piya Ghar Aya and Khaja Baba Khaja Baba reverberated in the hall ,the claps and the beats provided every opportunity for someone to break into an impromptu jig and join the musicians…

The venue for the Festival was Nicco Park,Plaza 3 and 4 where a huge open space greeted 3000 visitors spanning three days.

A Sufi Exhibition titled, Visual Journey detailed Sufism over the ages. The panels were all encompassing –from miniature paintings, calligraphy, Sufi architecture to iconic Sufi saints, it build up an aura of Sufism and created an ambience of Sufiana soch.

The carnival like atmosphere was not only about feast for the eyes and food for thought. The food court provided opportunity for quick grab. Handicrafts stalls were a visible delight with their handmade crafts from Pune and West Bengal.

Sufi Mulaqat

The International and the national teams started arriving a day prior to the event and settled in with the Kolkata ambience.

Sufi Mehfil

A perfect start to Sufi Sutra was the early morning strains of the Sound Check by the participating teams. The scintillating music echoed all over and created an invigorating experience for the people gathered at the grounds.

A workshop was organized in the morning for the musicians to warm up with the local audience which comprised of singers, journalists, musicians and people with a general interest. The musicians from different parts of the world explained the difference in their musical traditions, history, background, the technical details and the various musical instruments with their use. The general interaction took place at the end of the workshop along with a short performance. 

The evening programme was inaugurated by the ever graceful Aparna Sen-actor,writer and director of international repute, ace percussionist Tanmoy Bose along with Amitava Bhattacharya. The evening magic was palpable from the start. Thousands of people cheered, swayed, gasped in wonder and clapped as the voices of the singers resonated across the grounds. The magical whirl  and colours of the  Egyptian dervishes,the extreme colour  mingling with the serene whiteness of the Syrians; the glittering robes of the Tajiks with the sober colours of the Delhi troupe; the high pitches of Bengali Qawali singers with the mellowed tunes of the Iranians; the endearing tunes of the Afghans with the meaningful shayari of the Hydrabadi singers provided ample opportunity for each to participate and enjoy to one’s liking. The jamming of Shantanu Moitra and Tanmoy with the Bauls brought in collective exclamations! The sound of Dhol, Khol, Accordian,Rubab,Dotara,Tombak,Kamanch and Daff filled the place as the engrossed and awed audience clapped and danced. Fireworks,lighting and fountains created a mesmerizing ambience.

Sufi Sama

Kolkata Megapolis was on a Sufi fever! From IT guys to Style bhais, from septugenararian  to college going crowds from tourists  to music connoisseurs.

 The young generation was surprised to see Remo Fernandez, the Goan pop star still being a show stealer or were seen happily surprised to hear the Tajiks singing “Ekdin mit Jega Mati ke mol..jag mein reh jayenge pyare tere Bol”. Photographers clicked away and the media never missed a chance to take a byte or a note. Outside the ambit of music a different kind of symphony was being created with the discussions near the Dokra craft stall, the Patachitra stall or the iron work from Nagpur, a Frenchman explaining the Rajasthani Kartal or the buzz near the food court. The CD stalls saw interesting enquiries as well as a demand for the local folk instruments and the panel writings. The daily newsletters provided updation and insight into the various activities. The local cuisine was also an instant hit with the international teams. New bonds of friendship were created to young kids, everybody was part of the festival and old ones were being renewed. The last word was saved by Remo who stated “This is Woodstock”.

“All Good Things come to an End”

The adage was on everybody’s lips while leaving the stadium on the concluding day of Sufi Sutra. Hundreds and thousands of people flocked at the venue to share the experience of a lifetime. All the elements were in place, the fine winter evening, the crisp breeze, the greens all around, the colourful crowd ,the young spirit and the right anticipation..
The green room before the Grand finale was a sight to watch.the mélange of colours, languages, voices and music , the hugs and the kisses, emotions  running high. The Tajikstan and the Syrian interpreters explained their inability to interpret such overwhelming emotions!

Matching steps,eating together,showing instruments,learning music,looking at a shared chord pattern,Syria meeting Gorbhanga,Fakir from Nadia meets the Egyptian dervishes and the Pashtoo and Bengali sign language being the same. The responses from one another brought humanity and music together. The three day festival saw a dedicated team of 175 persons working tirelessly to make the event a genad success. More than 30,000 people attended the event and it left a deep mark in the hearts of the Kolkatans with an encore for a second.