TCS RUHANIYAT… Seeking the Divine
Just when you think the worst might be getting over, an even uglier face of humanity thrusts itself out. Insane, intense hatred, mindless destruction, far reaching negative impact on the Planet Earth. Where are we headed? The voice of sanity seems to be getting buried even deeper with each passing day. The need for Soul searching was never felt so desperately and so urgently.
The answers are within us, around us, only if we looked sincerely, said the wise ones.
To help connect with the wisdom of the wise, realized masters from around the world, Ruhaniyat is back for the 23rd consecutive year!
Once again, thanks to the national presenting partners TCS, the festival will be presented in all the 8 cities i.e. Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Pune. There are several never seen before artists and forms both from across India and other countries.
Artists from guest countries like Brazil, Scotland, Indonesia, South Africa and Bangladesh will be part of Ruhaniyat for the very first time and there will also be artists from countries that have been part of Ruhaniyat in the past like Taiwan, Egypt, Turkey and Republic of Tuva.
From India we have some unique first- time presentations like, the legend of Mhasu from Jaunsar, Uttarakhand; Thaali Sur of Daang from Maharashtra; Mandulodu from Telangana; a first ever curated production of Baba Bulleh Shah’s compositions; as well as presentations of Tamil and Kannada mysticism among others. Of course, some of the artists and forms will be presented again though not in the cities where they have already performed like the rare Khasi songs of Meghalaya, Kapalik Pandwani of Chhattisgarh, works of saints of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, as well as works of Sant Kabir, Meera bai among others. As always, each city will also witness specially curated collaborations of artists from India and guest countries.
Brainchild of the Mahesh Babu, founder Director Banyan Tree, TCS Ruhaniyat today is more than just a multi-city festival of rare forms and music. It has become a platform to discover rare forms & talents, it has managed to revive some near extinction forms and, more than anything else, through its powerful body of work and loyal audience across the country, it also connects the hearts by melting rigid boundaries as messages of great realized, masters are brought to life by carriers of living traditions from around the world.
Brain child of Mahesh Babu, the festival is among the most awaited events in India and according to the audiences it brings peace, calm and joyous serenity. Naturally the audience, the artists and curators are all eagerly waiting, rearing to go. Because it is an experience where all feel transported to another world … to another realm, to a world of love, harmony, peace, calm, equilibrium and unity.
This year the Mumbai edition will see a very special guest artist group; the world-renowned Tuvan living legend Huun Huur Tu, from Mongolia. Among the Indian artists are Ashupreet Kaur & group (Punjab), Rameshwari Devi & group (Uttarakhand), Parvathy Baul (West Bengal), Narh – the Ancient instrument of Mystic stories, Kachra Khan & group (Rajasthan), Prahlad Singh Tippaniya & group (Madhya Pradesh) Kinnara Katha (Telangana), Jogwa & Bharud by Radha Khude (Maharashtra) and of course, Qawwali.
The artists for other editions include groups from all across India like Hemant Chauhan, Dhadhi Jattha, Kashmiri Kalams, Avadhoot Gandhi to name a few and guest artists like Louvat brothers from Belgium, Latif Bolat from Turkey, N’Faly Kouyate from Africa among others.
