Ibadat-e-Aman, music initiative for peace, was organised for the fourth time at the Stein Auditorium by Ehsaas Foundation and St. Stephen’s Society, Agra. It was staged in association with Indian Council of Cultural Relations and India Habitat Centre.
The famous duo of Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan and Sandeep Silas ‘deep’ presented an evening of sufiyana kalaam along with Astha Dixit’s graceful Kathak performance. While Shafqat, the internationally renowned Sufi classical singer from the sub-continent, belongs to the 500-year-old Shaam Chaurasi gharana of east Punjab, the poet Sandeep Silas ‘deep’ hails from Agra and Astha Dixit has learnt Kathak from Harish Gangani of Jaipur gharana and from Malti Shyam of lucknow gharana. Shafqat rendered sufi nazams and ghazals while Sandeep recited sufiyana ghazals written by him.
An innovation was presented on stage as Astha performed Kathak on Sandeep’s shayari sung in tarrannum. Similarly Astha’s graceful Kathak moves accompanied the sufiyana singing of Shafqat. This unique sufiyana musical evening, conveyed the message of peace and cultural unity of the sub-continent. It became a source of realising inner peace.
Ibadat-e-Aman stands for promoting the cause of peace in the Indian subcontinent at the level of artists committed to brotherhood and communal harmony.