Meenakshi Shedde: In a mystic trance

Bindhumalini Narayanaswamy and Vedanth Bharadwaj singing at the Kabir Festival PicRitu JoshiThere is something exalting about the Kabir Festival that takes place every January and usually opens in the slums of Jogeshwari East near the fish market This year it was held in a small square just off honking traffic and market crowds haggling over machchi and kebabs Following the destruction of the Babri Masjid by right wingers the Bombay riots took place in December 1992 and January 1993 in which around 900 people died throughout Mumbai including in JogeshwariYears later near Ground Zero in the suburb the Kabir Festival suggests that music can also heal and be inclusive Here it often features Bindhumalini Narayanaswamy and Vedanth Bharadwaj both trained in Carnatic and Hindustani classical music singing qawwali songs such as the hypnotic Allah Hu and Aaj Rang Hai along with Sufi songs by Padma Shri Prahlad Tipaniyas troupe among others The locals mainly Muslims are astonished that qawwalis regarded as Islamic music appeals to a far wider audience including many faiths The jaws of women in burqas drop well it is hard to see jaws dropping behind burqas I admit when they watch a woman lead a qawwali And a South Indian woman mdash and in short hair at that Suddenly even if briefly all limitations seem to drop and the possibilities of the heart seem endless Soon the crowd is clapping caught up in the trancelike quality of the songsThe Kabir Festival Mumbai held since 2011 includes classical music concerts folk songs dance performances film screenings and talks in Mumbai that celebrate the teachings of 15th century Sufi poet and sage Kabir as well as other mystic poets from Sufi Bhakti and other traditions throughout the Indian subcontinent Kabir was a weaverpoet who believed that humanity and compassion were more important than religion The festival reminds us of Kabirs relevance in India today when prejudices oppression and murders are increasingly common and justice seems a distant dream especially for minorities including Muslims Dalits and others It is this inclusive India with deep roots that we celebrate The festival is headed by Falguni Desai who was first inspired when she heard Prahlad Tipaniya sing It unlocked something inside me and I felt compelled to share it with others she said It is also inspired by the Kabir Project headed by filmmaker Shabnam Virmani who following the Godhra riots travelled with folk singers who have sung Kabirs music for generationsThe festival draws performers from all over India including Prahlad Tipaniya who sings Kabir in the Malwi tradition Mooralala Marwada Kutchi Radhika Sood Nayak Punjabi Sufi Shruthi Vishwanath Marathi abhangs and Parvathy Baul and Lakshman Das Baul Bengali baul music Vedanth Bharadwajs repertoire includes the terrific Bhajo re bhaiya in which he accompanies himself with a cool blues guitar The festival is run by the Kabir community and partners all the 15odd performances from Fountain to Bandra Borivli Thane and Vashi are free and open to all Im a Kabir Festival volunteer Tipaniya also walks the talk a school teacher and farmer he also runs a school for underprivileged children in Luniyakhedi Madhya PradeshThe high point is the unplugged session when all the musicians of different faiths and musical traditions jam together often on Carter Road at dawn by the sea a soaring emotion sweeps us all in its embrace Theres a lovely Malwi phrase that sums up the feeling mhara batya ghanela hoy mdashmy joy increases through sharingMeenakshi Shedde is South Asia Consultant to the Berlin Film Festival awardwinning critic curator to festivals worldwide and journalist She can be reached onmeenakshisheddegmailcomCatch up on all the latest Mumbai National and International news hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go