CITY TO HOST ‘JAHAN-E-KHUSRO’ MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jaipur: After a gap of a decade, World Sufi Music Festival ‘Jahan-e-Khusro’ is once again being organized by the Department of Tourism, Rajasthan on 19^th and 20^th November 2022 at Albert Hall in Jaipur in association with Rumi foundation. The event promises to give a glimpse of the culture of Rajasthan through the melodious sounds of Sufi music.

Principal Secretary, the Department of Tourism, Rajasthan, Gayatri Rathore, filmmaker and painter Muzaffar Ali and Producer, Screenplay Writer Meera Ali addressed the media today and briefed them about the two-day event and its key highlights.

Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Rajasthan, Gayatri Rathore said, “We are trying to bring up Rajasthan as a popular cultural destination and with this objective, this festival is being revived after 10 years. I am expecting that through this festival we would be able to showcase the musical traditions of Rajasthan and this would help attract domestic as well international tourists in long run.”

She further added, “We have been getting good feedback from hotel industry, tour operators and booking to visit and watch this event, has started coming in to them. We have always tried to bring up Rajasthan as the most preferred destination.

The state has registered 70% increase in domestic tourists which is even better than pre-covid period and footfall of international tourists have also increased. We are participating in ongoing WTM London where we are connecting with leading travel agents and trying to increase the footfall from UK and other overseas markets.

She noted that it is important to give a platform to local artists and to this end, on 11^th November, Department of Art & Culture will be signing an MoU with Indian Council for Cultural Relation (ICCR) to facilitate artists from Rajasthan to get opportunity to perform in various countries and theses artists will be our ambassadors.

Jahan e Khusro, which is being organized to showcase the folklore and legends of Rajasthan, said filmmaker and painter Muzaffar Ali, “This year we will be presenting a very popular story of 'Moomal' through a musical ballet, the presentation aims to bring communities together and the same will also echo in the poetry and music of Sufi poet-saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, which will be used in the ballet.” This event is being curated by Muzaffar Ali and Meera Ali. Celebrated artists such as Javed Ali, Nooran Sisters, Jasleen Kaur, and Niazi would be performing at the Jahan-e-Khusro Festival.

Muzzafar Ali elaborated that on19th November the first day of the program, (November 19), a ballet dance titled 'Huma' will be staged. On the 2^nd evening 'Moomal'-Rooh-e-Desert ballet will be performed followed by Sada-e-Sufi by Nooran Sisters.