Ruhaniyat, the mystic music festival is back in a new avatar

India’s biggest mystic music festival, Ruhaniyat, is back in a new avatar.

Over the years, Ruhaniyat has been crisscrossing history, geography and musical streams featuring solos, group presentations, specially-curated global productions that melts boundaries and creates musical bridges of universal brotherhood, love, harmony, peace and joy.

The coronavirus pandemic, the lockdown and all that followed also made us realise how little do we really need in life. It made us ask some fundamental questions. So many realisations, several lessons learnt. And, one hopes that the impact of all the soul searching is not short-lived. When in the midst of all the chaos, for most, connecting with the divine, in whatever way, seemed like a soothing balm, a ray of hope.

Reading or listening to the immortal works of great saints, realised masters gave solace and also provided that most needed ray of hope.

"As November arrived, we at Banyan Tree helplessly looked at the scenario which was far from suitable to take off on our annual Ruhaniyat journey. We kept receiving calls from our artists, audiences enquiring on when it will be possible. Finally, the wait is over and we are all set to present Ruhaniyat once again. Though, except Mumbai, it will not be a physical concert. We are thankful that we can present Ruhaniyat even if in a digital format to all our loyal audiences across the country," the organisers said in a statement.

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"And despite the difficult times, to be able to present Ruhaniyat in all the eight cities, once again, we are truly grateful to our national partners Tata Consultancy Services for joining hands with us yet again," the statement said.

"In each city, every digital version will be a specially-curated Ruhaniyat concert. Each will be a combination of freshly shot performances as well as some exceptional performances from our Ruhaniyat archives, keeping in mind the taste of each city and acts which they might have missed out over the years."

Digital Ruhaniyat concert in Kolkata will be presented on March 6, 6 pm onward with artiste line-up like Lal Vakh and Sufi Kalam by Abdul Rashid Hafiz and Group (Kashmir), When hearts connect by Nandesh Umap with group (Maharashtra), Balalaika Ensemble (Russia), Polyphony Songs – Vaya Quartet (Bulgaria), Qawwali – Warsi Brothers and Group on bookmyshow.com

After Kolkata, Ruhaniyat concerts will be held in Delhi on March 7, featuring enchanting glimpses of the baul world by Parvathy Baul (West Bengal), a bridge across sand dunes by Sawan Khan and group (Rajasthan) and so on. It will be held in Ahmedabad (March 13), Bengaluru (March 14), Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune. In Mumbai Ruhaniyat will be presented in hybrid format (virtual and limited live audience).

Parvathy Baul says, "It's an immense pleasure to be a part of such a grand musical celebration as Ruhaniyat. It's going global now. As it is happening on digital platforms, audiences from any city can watch the same. It has a great range of various genres of music and artistes."