Huge turnout at Jodhpur Sufi fest

Jodhpur (Rajasthan): The ongoing World Sufi Spirit Festival (WSSF) is proving out to be a huge crowd puller, especially with foreign visitors flocking here to experience the most dazzling traditions of music.Hosted by the Royal family of Jodhpur, the Sufi music festival started Friday at the Mehrangarh Fort here and will culminate Feb 27 at Ahichhatragarh Fort in Nagaur. "The footfall is much more than expected. It is the second edition here in Mehrangarh Fort, but the response has been exceptional. I hope it grows in the coming editions," Mehrangarh director, Karni Jasol told reporters on Saturday. The second day of the fest Saturday saw a large number of people witness the exquisite performances of the Manganiyars and the Langa children (castes of singers, poets, musicians in Rajasthan). An European tourist said: "I have come all the way from Europe and I just feel so enriched. These little kids are simply amazing and quite a treat to watch. The kind of enthusiasm that they have just makes you smile." Other highlights were the Kalaripayattu martial art form and the bagpipe expertise of Shravan from Nagore - continued to hold the attention of the audience. As the sun set, the much awaited performance of the day -- Homayoun Sakhi from Afghanistan on the rubab -- left the arena awestruck. The second highlight was the `Kathak-Kaalam` creation - a collaboration between Anuj Mishra from the Lucknow Gharana and lighting calligraphy by Julien Breton of France. Mishra performed Kathak for visitors like they have never seen before. He is amongst the few who can match physical beauty with technical prowess. IANS