Kondotty Sufifest 2019 organized by Thakkiya Foundation and Akshara club was held at Qubba Premises, near Calicut Airport, concluded. An array of musicians and artists from various parts of the country participated in the festival. This two-day long festival spread across Kondotty and its surrounding celebrated the region’s culture. The event has been curated by critically acclaimed multi-media artist and sculptor Riyas Komu.
The festival began with the traditional Muttum Viliyum, the ritual procession that was part of the Kondotty Nercha. Storytellers wove spellbinding tales, poet’s recited verses with eminent musicians and unleashed spiritual raptures through zestful sounds and rhythm. Oscar-winner Resul Pookutty, Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, Sopana sangeetham artiste Njeralath Harigovindan and music expert S Gopalakrishnan took part in the program. A conversation between filmmaker and singer Shabnam Virmani and film critic CS Venkiteswaran, presentations by Anitha Thampi, Hudeifa Ahamad, and C Hamza were key highlights of the festival.
Singer Reshmi Satheesh and gazal exponent Mukhthiar Ali enthralled the audience in the evening with their performance. Rag Razaq was honored with the “Thakkiya Puraskaaram 2019”. Sculptural Installation by Jigesh Kumar, Ponnani Series Photography Exhibition by K R Sunil, Small Scale Societies Video Installation by Vipin Vijay, Graffiti by Abid Sheikh and Mohammad Irshad, Kondotty by Biju Ibrahim (Photography), Graphic Art by Lathish Laxman, Alang by Madhu Kapparath (Photography) and Painting by Anitha T K were also part of the festival.
Kondotty is a fascinating site of historic memory; arrivals through the sea and across the land were always integral to the flourishing of the local economy, arts, and culture. Spiritual explorations and expressions crisscrossed and blossomed from time immemorial, while its history is also one that is scarred by colonial invasions and communal strife. Through the ebb and tide of time, Kondotty has remained as a site of healing, reflection, and spiritual exuberance.
True to Kondotty’s transformative spirit, IQRA: Sufi Fest ignited and illuminated togetherness in multiplicity through soul-stirring music, mystical poetry recitations and illuminating discourses on philosophy, art and the esoteric wisdom of one of the oldest living and most cosmopolitan of mystical traditions in the world.
