A workshop promises to reintroduce Delhiites to the citys Sufi culture The best part about autumn is the kind of activities that spring up. From walks to park games to music festivals,the Capital comes alive in the season. Joining the fray of activities is Ektara,a Delhi-based arts and culture collective,that is hosting a qawwali and Sufi music appreciation workshop. We began the workshop last month on a trial basis and were surprised by the number of people who signed up, says Yousuf Saeed,one of the founder members of Ektara. The five-day workshop begins on December 5 and has sessions by musicians and scholars. Age is no barrier nor are the participants required to have prior knowledge of or training in music. There will be 12 sessions of two hours each,with lecture demos,live music and video screenings. Participants will also get a chance to listen to archival recordings and poetry recitation in Urdu and Hindi. The workshop will reintroduce Delhiites to the citys Sufi history through heritage walks in Old Delhi,as wellas bring alive the repertoire of Amir Khusrau and his master Nizamuddin Aulia, says Saeed,who hopes that by the end of the workshop,participants will not only be able to better appreciate the nuances and larger context of Sufi music but also be able to trace a movement in Delhis history. We pay every musician and scholar who is part of this workshop and treat it like a festival, says Saeed. Perhaps that explains the Rs 4,000 fee for the workshop,although there are early-bird and student discounts. To view the details of the workshop and register,visit www.ektara.org
