A riveting performance by Pakistani Qawwali Group enthralled a large audience at the on-going Mystic Music Festival in Konya.
Qawwal Ejaz Sher Ali Khan and group from Pakistan are participating in the 13th International Mystic Music Festival, being held at the Mevlana Cultural Centre in Konya from 22-30 September 2016.
A part of the 809th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Mevlana Jalaludin Rumi, the Festival has been organized with joint collaboration of the Governorate of Konya and the Department of Culture and Tourism.
The 90-minute Qawwali programme was laced with some of the most famous Qawwalis – including Mun Kunto Maula, Mera Piya Ghar Aaya, and Lal Meri Paat. The response from the audience in the jam-packed hall was hearty, reflected in a spontaneous standing ovation at the end.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Sohail Mahmood warmly congratulated Ejaz Sher Ali Qawwal and the group for their excellent performance. He noted that Qawwali was a special, world-renowned genre of Pakistani music, aptly included in the wide-ranging festival also featuring sufi music from various countries and Turkey’s famous “Tasavvuff” music and “Mevlevi Sema” (Whirling Dervishes).
Ambassador Sohail thanked the office of the Governor as well as the Konya Municipality for their invitation to the Qawwali group and highlighted the spiritual connection between Rumi and the people of Pakistan, especially illustrated in Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s poetry.
As part of the ongoing celebrations, the Konya authorities have also arranged a photographic exhibition, in which a young, prominent Pakistani travel/ documentary photographer Danial Shah is participating along with other participants from a large number of OIC countries. Danial Shah’s work has been displayed at the Mevlana Cultural Centre and 8 public places in Konya.
Pakistan’s cultural collaboration continues to be expanded with Konya, which is also a sister-city with Multan. Konya has also been designated as Islamic Tourism Capital for 2016.
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