Sufi singer Ragini Rainu performs at the concert at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, March 13: The Bhubaneswar Music Circle is celebrating its 50th foundation year with Sufi renditions at a three-day concert titled Samarpan that started yesterday at Rabindra Mandap.

Odissi vocalist Sangita Gosain sang devotional songs. She started off by paying a tribute to the goddess of music, Saraswati, and soon went on to perform classic compositions penned by poet Gangadhar Meher. Emphasising the bond between the devotee and the divine, she also sang well-known bhajans.

The next performer of the evening was the young Sufi singer Ragini Rainu, who brought the freshness of her native land Kashmir, to the auditorium. Ragini has already established herself as a Sufi music exponent. She has performed alongside stalwarts of Indian classical music at various festivals across the country. Yesterday, she displayed her magic by presenting a variety of soft Sufi compositions such as Shah Hussein’s Mayani, Uth chalein, Ghunghat, Ranjha and Kabir among others. “Sufism preaches the message of love and illustrates how music can bring together people with differences,” said Ragini.

“I loved performing for the Bhubaneswar audience, who not only appreciate artistes, but also love music,” she said.

The audience enjoyed the performance of the two singers. “The two forms of music presented were similar as both stressed on love and devotion. It was a special experience to listen to Sufi music here,” said Chandana Sahoo, a member of the audience.

Well-known santoor player Bhajan Sopari was seated among the audience during the programme.

The festival, among artistes of various genres of music, also features other Sufi musicians such as Kaluram Bamniya from Malwa, Madhya Pradesh. He is known for performing songs based on Kabir’s compositions. The Warsi brothers from Hyderabad, who are well known for Sufi qawwali, will also perform in the event.