Latest news with #Sufi
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Lalu Prasad Yadav co-writes folk legends anthology rooted in Gorakhnathi tradition
NEW DELHI: In a vivid resurrection of forgotten voices, ancient ballads, and mystical legends, a new anthology by senior politician Lalu Prasad Yadav and author Nalin Verma brings together four timeless folk tales -- "Sorthi-Brijbhar", "Bharthari-Pingla", "Heer-Ranjha", and "Saranga-Sadabrij". Rooted in the life and teachings of Yogi Gorakhnath, the revered 11th-century mystic whose inclusive religious philosophy deeply influenced the Sufi and Bhakti movements in India, these stories offered in "Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath" were once sung by itinerant yogis of the Gorakhnath sect, accompanied by the melancholic notes of the sarangi. It is published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI). "Over the years, these ballads became a source of sustenance for folklorists and folk theatre artists, who performed at wedding parties and religious events. I am very passionate about these stories. I got the folklorists to perform when I became the chief minister of Bihar in 1990." "I still invite them to perform when I find time. I shared these stories with Nalin Verma, who has carried out extensive research to present these stories here. I am greatly thankful to him for writing these stories, which have been a part of our culture and our heritage," writes Yadav, the national president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and former chief minister of Bihar, in the book's introduction.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rekha Bhardwaj: Dilli mein maine sangeet seekha, yahan gaake sunana toh banta hai
Rekha Bhardwaj live in concert "Rekha ji aao!" chanted the crowd at Bharat Mandapam on Sunday as a slight delay built anticipation. Rekha Bhardwaj took the stage, opening with Naina Thag Lenge, her voice drawing the audience in from the first note. Dressed in a brocade skirt and magenta jacket, with alta on her hands, the singer twirled with one arm raised, echoing a dervish's dance. She explained the Sufi gesture: the upward palm receives from existence, the downward one gives back – a way to seek blessings for all. She added, 'Jab aas paas itni ashanti ho, aur hum ek khoobsurat shaam guzaar paye, it's a great blessing.' The singer twirled with one arm raised, echoing a dervish's dance Her love for Delhi came through in every interaction. 'Dilli dil walon ki hai, main bhi Dilli se hoon,' she said, even swapping 'Raipur' for 'Dilli' in Genda Phool. Midway through her set, the singer added, 'Dilli mein maine achcha sangeet suna, seekha toh yahan pe gaake sunana toh banta hai. It's the only way to know where I stand and how much I need to work on my craft still.' The evening continued with her renditions of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's ghazals like Humne Dekha Tha Ek Khwab, and Vishal Bhardwaj's composition Dhundh. However, the highlight of the concert was her iconic Namak Ishq Ka, which she called, 'jo safar main kaat ke aayi, jis nagme ki wajah se,' crediting the Omkara song for shaping her journey. Rekha was dressed in a brocade skirt and magenta jacket, with alta on her hands Her voice drew the audience in from the first note
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Rawalpindi plans grand Independence Day festivities
Two young men select a flag at a kiosk in Bahawalpur. Preparations for Independence Day celebration are in full swing across the province as both citizens and authorities are decorating their vicinities with flags, lights and posters. PHOTO: APP Listen to article Pakistan's 78th Independence Day will be celebrated across Rawalpindi with great enthusiasm, patriotic spirit, and ceremonial grandeur, the district administration formally announced on Tuesday. The central celebration will be held at Government Viqar-un-Nisa Girls College at 9 am, where Civil Defence volunteers will present a march-past and guard of honour. The commissioner and deputy commissioner will perform the flag-hoisting ceremony, followed by march-pasts by Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. Across the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, prominent landmarks — including Parliament House, Aiwan-e-Sadr, the Supreme Court, Secretariat buildings, bazaars, railway stations, Adiala Jail, hospitals, parks, and other public venues — will be adorned with vibrant buntings, decorative lighting, national flags, and portraits of national heroes. Official buildings, private residences, vehicles, and even motorcycles will proudly display the Pakistani flag, contributing to a citywide atmosphere of national pride. Cultural floats showcasing the diverse traditions of Punjab, Sindh, Potohar, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) will feature prominently in Independence Day parades and rallies, highlighting the country's rich cultural mosaic. At the Rawalpindi Arts Council, exhibitions will be held featuring rare photographs from the Pakistan Movement and portraits of key national figures. The festivities will also include thematic tableaux, quiz contests, speech competitions, a sports gala, and a Sufi night at Iqbal Park, which will also host a special Independence Day exhibition. Flag-raising ceremonies will take place at the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench, district courts, District Bar Association, universities, and the Education Board. From August 1 to August 14, government officials and employees will wear Independence Day badges, and national flags will be prominently hoisted on rooftops across the city. In celebration of the occasion, sweets will be distributed at hospitals and Adiala Jail, and sentence remissions will be granted to eligible inmates. Awards will be presented to buildings with the most exceptional decorations. Citywide decorations will commence from August 1, marking the onset of celebrations. A high-level planning meeting, chaired by DC Hassan Waqar Cheema, was held to review and finalise preparations. During the session, a comprehensive programme of events was officially approved, underscoring the administration's commitment to celebrating Independence Day with unprecedented zeal, unity, and national pride.
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Khaled Selim and Hisham Kharma conclude the Summer Festival for Music and Singing in Alexandria
Beit Al-Seheimi Al-Moez St, Al-Darb Al Asfar Alley, Al-Gamaleya District, Tel 02 2787 8865 Every Sunday, 7.30pm (Free entry): The Nile Troupe for Folk Instruments, founded by artist Zakariya El-Hagawy, performs dances and songs from Upper Egypt on mizmar, tabla and other traditional musical instruments. Every Friday, 8pm (Free entry): 'Alaragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel' (The Karakouz and The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muaaz Street, presented by Wamda and directed by its founder and scripter Nabil Bahgat. Al-Ghouri Dome 111 Al-Azhar St, Al-Ghouriya, Tel 02 2506 0227 Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music (Performances every Sat and Wed, 7pm). Thurs 31, 8pm: Mosaic band features violina player Mohamed Sharara performs a selection of Arab and international compositions. Makan 1 Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 2792 0878 Every Tuesday, 8pm: Mawawil features vocalists Hend and Sara in a repertoire of traditional music of the Nile Delta, Al Jaafra music played by Arab Tribes from Aswan and Nass Makan band. Every Wednesday, 8pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher ensemble featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sabah. Rawabet Art Space 5 Hussien Pasha El-Meaamar St. ext. of Mahmoud Bassiouny St, Maarouf, Qasr El Nil, Downtown Thurs 31, 8pm: 'Shawshy Time' is a crowd work special, every show has a topic and discuss it in a way that's entertaining, balancing between laughter and storytelling. Nothing is prepared in advance, the show is completely on the spot, based on audience interaction and Amgad Shawshi and that makes each show different than the ones before it. Room Art Space & Café 10 Etihad Al Mohamin, Garden City, Tel 01000 068 159 Thurs 31, 8pm: Shady El-Qasseer live in concert featuring vocalist Noha Fekry. Fri 1 August, 8pm: 'Living Show' a unique comedic experience because the audience will sit as if he is sitting at home with his friends, where the audience is the heart of the show in an unforgettable evening full of surprises and laughter. Sat 2, 8pm: Nostalgic night by Ezzo, an Egyptian singer, songwriter and actor who specializes in Arabic singing in the oriental, pop and several other genres. Tues 5, 8pm: Karaoke night. The Spot mall, infront of AUC Gate 4, New Cairo Sun 3, 9pm: Pedro open mic. Mon 4, 9pm: Ahmad Ali El-Haggar is an Egyptian musician performing original music as well as covers of Classic Egyptian songs. Tues 5, 9pm: Paranoid Eyes is an Egyptian Pink Floyd tribute that revives Pink Floyd's music in Egypt. Wed 6 and Thurs 7, 9pm: Karaoke night. El Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, underneath the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 El Sawy's Nile University branch El Sheikh Zayed Thurs 31, 8pm: Massar Egbari band. Wisdom Hall Tues 5 August, 8pm: Carnivalia X Crashendo. Thurs 6.30 and 8.30pm: El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of Umm Kolthoum performing two of her much-loved songs. Teatro Arkan Arkan Plaza, El-Sheikh Zayed, Giza, Egypt Thurs 31, 8pm: Iron Tawfeeq is bringing you the final episode of his hit comedy show 'Dah Video Beyedhak' (this is a comic video). Thurs 7 August, 8pm: For the last time, comedian Ahmed Khairy will perform his one-hour stand-up comedy show, 'Made in Egypt'. He promises an unforgettable night full of laughter and surprises. ALEXANDRIA Alexandria International Stadium 12 Omar Tosoun St, Qesm Bab Sharky, Alexandria The Summer Festival for Music and Singing (27-31 July 2025) Thurs 31, 9pm: Musical composer Hisham Kharma (10pm) Super star singer Khaled Selim and his band. Anfoushi Culture Palace 59 Kasr Al Tin, Ras Al Tin, Al Gomrok, Alexandria Thurs 7, 8pm: Tablet Elsitt band is back with a brand-new show full of art, folklore, and authentic eastern rhythms. Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 The 22nd International Summer Festival (7-31 August) Conference Centre Main Hall Thurs 7, 8.30pm: The opening concert of the festival features super star singer Medhat Saleh, accompanied by his band, conducted by pianist Amr Selim. Tickets for the festival concerts are sold exclusively through the BA ticket sales outlet, BA's official online booking link: * A version of this article appears in print in the 6 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Deleted, not denied: The truth behind Kanthapuram's claim on Nimisha Priya's reprieve
A curious development unfolded on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) morning about the reported commutation of Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya's death sentence in Yemen. An ANI tweet about the reprieve, shared by Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar on X, disappeared from his social media handle. On Monday night, Mr. Aboobacker Musliar had announced that Yemeni authorities had waived the death sentence following a series of discussions involving scholars appointed by senior Yemeni Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Omer bin Hafiz, Northern Yemen representatives and international diplomats. The news had been widely reported by media outlets, including ANI, which Mr. Aboobacker Musliar had shared on his X handle. However, when ANI deleted the original tweet, it automatically disappeared from Mr. Aboobacker Musliar's X handle, leading to confusions and speculations about Nimisha Priya's fate. Kanthapuram maintains stance Mr. Aboobacker Musliar maintained on Tuesday that the Yemeni authorities had indeed decided to revoke the death sentence handed to Nimisha Priya, accused of murdering Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017. According to sources close to Mr. Aboobacker Musliar, the next step is negotiating with Talal Abdo Mahdi's family to determine Nimisha Priya's sentence – either life imprisonment or release upon payment of blood money. Mr. Aboobacker Musliar's claim about waiving of Nimisha Priya's execution was confirmed on Monday night by Sarhan Shamsan Al Wiswabi, a Yemeni activist and spokesperson for the Action Council for Talal Mahdi's Justice in Yemen, through a Facebook post. Mr. Wiswabi said in his post that due to the strong intervention of religious scholars, the death sentence was waived. He said it would now be either life imprisonment or release on payment of blood money. Her planned July 16 execution was earlier deferred following multiple interventions. The Centre claimed it had intervened, while Mr. Aboobacker Musliar had claimed he did so through his close association with revered Yemeni Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Omer bin Hafiz. Mr. Aboobacker Musliar's intervention, however, sparked a controversy. Several individuals and groups tried to claim credit for the reprieve, while others criticised him for his involvement. Some Keralites opposing Mr. Aboobacker Musliyar's efforts went further, expressing sympathy for Talal Abdo Mahdi's family on Facebook. They urged Abdul Fatah Mahdi, the victim's brother, to reject any potential pardon for Nimisha Priya and instead advocated for her capital punishment, adding complexity to the situation.
