World Sufi Festival kicks off in Glasgow

Sufi exponents from India, Pakistan and other countries come together for the three-day festival which began in Glasgow city on Friday.

Sufi exponents from India, Pakistan and other countries came together as the three-day World Sufi Festival kicked off in Glasgow city. "I'm delighted that the World Sufi Festival has once again chosen our city as its location. It has proved very popular with Glaswegians," city's Lord Provost Bob Winter said, inaugurating the festival yesterday.

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Glasgow earlier hosted the festival in 2006. The festival offers a diverse programme putting peace and love at the forefront of community activity. It includes talks and workshops exploring Sufism and a wide range of international performers, artists, crafts, fashion, poetry, theatre, film and food.

Performers include Bani and Indrani Bhattacharya, the talented mother and daughter team from Scotland, who have performed all over the UK and India. They will showcase music and dance in an entertaining repertoire that includes songs by Tagore, the poetry of Rumi and Sufi Bengali pop fusions.

Mustapha Zahid and his band Rox3n from Pakistan will also perform during the extravaganza. The Kabul Ensemble from Afghanistan, Salim Sabri and Abdul Hamid Qawwal and pupils of the highly celebrated Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (Sabri Brothers) would also perform during the event. The festival celebrates a mystical way of life which emphasises respect for all religions.