File picture of Sufi singer Ragini Rainu performing at the Bhubaneswar Music Circle concert last year

Bhubaneswar, March 11: The second edition of the three-day national music festival, Samarpan, commenced at Rabindra Mandap this evening.

The cultural soiree is being hosted by Bhubaneswar Music Circle in collaboration with state tourism department.

The inaugural evening of the festival featured Sufiana music of Kashmir and Persia. Srinagar-based Jenab Munir Ahmad Mir, a singer and composer, and his group. Mir sung his way into the hearts of the audience.

Rajasthan-based Jenab Roze Khan and his group members, who hail from Langas and Manganiar communities, created an aura of mysticism in the following act.

The subsequent evenings will present the Sufi music of Nepal and Gorkha Hills for the city’s music lovers.

Crooning these songs from the hills in his mellifluous voice would be Pema Lama and his troupe. The famed Baul songs of Bengal, too, would enthral the listeners on the occasion.

Legendary singer Purna Das Baul, who has many followers across the globe and is called Baul Samrat (emperor of Baul songs), will spell magic with his repertoire.

The festival will end with nirguna Odia bhajans by Odissi singer-composer Guru Ramahari Das. The last act of the concluding evening will be Kabir bhajans by Swami G.C.D. Bharti and his troupe from Varanasi.

Last year, the festival had featured recitals by renowned artistes from across the country. Noted singer Sangita Gosain had presented traditional Bhakti Sangeet in Odia and Ragini Rainu from Kashmir had sung Sufi songs. While artistes from Malwa in Madhya Pradesh had crooned the teachings of poet Kabir, Parvati Baul had lent her voice to Baul songs of Bengal.

The highlight of the last edition of the festival was Sufi Qawwali by the well-known Warsi Brothers from Hyderabad.

“The festival was well received by music lovers. Not many musical concerts in the city theme their presentations on Sufi music, which was why people have liked our festival so much. This sheer affection encouraged us to come back with another edition,” Khirod Pattnaik, general secretary of Bhubaneswar Music Circle.