A soulful performance of Maijbhandari songs

Abul Sarkar (L) and Dilruba Khan deliver moving performances. PHOTO: STAR

Though Maijbhandari songs are based traditionally on praise of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Muslim pir (saints), they also focus on love for humanity, morality, secularism and divine love. The Sufis assemble at Maij-bhandari Sharif at Chittagong to practice mystic rites and render spiritual songs.

Maijbhandari songs originated in Chittagong about a century ago under the aegis of Syed Ahmadullah Maij-bhandari (1826-1906). Renowned bard Romesh Sheel composed over 300 Maijbhandari songs, thereby popularising the genre all over country. Nowadays, followers of Chishtia Tariquah (the Sufis who believe in reuniting of the soul with the Almighty and the Prophet through dance and music) at the different dargah (shrines), rural bards and even urban solo singers who are not followers of the cult, render Maijbhandai songs.

Representatives from all of these communities rendered Maijbhandari songs such Iskul khuilase re Mowlah, Doyal baba kebla kaba aynar karigar, Maijbhandarir mormo bujhe rashik o shujan and others on the last day of the five-day-long regional musical soiree arranged by the Production Department of BSA.

The attraction of the evening was the presentation of Maijbhandari Moromi Goshthi, a representative of the cult of Maijbhandar Sharif, Chittagong. The troupe rendered three songs-- Dom-e dom-e jopo re mon, Ke dilo je and Tarey bhokti bhorey. Moreover, followers of the cult living at different corners of the country such as Abul Sarkar and his troupe, Jamal Dewan and his troupe, Matal Abdul Hai and his troupe, Kala Chan Dewan and his troupe, Bijoy Kumar Das and his troupe, Jahanara Bikrampuri and her troupe and others performed.

Abul Sarkar's stentorian voice modulation during the rendition of the song Rasul eshechhey was highly appreciated by the audience. In response to the call for an encore, Abul Sarkar and his troupe presented another song Belayater maslah, though the performers barring Maijbhandari Marami Goshthi were supposed to render one song each.

11 solo artistes from Dhaka and other districts also performed. Dilruba Khan, Shahin Khan, Bulbuli Akhtar, Saleha Nasrin Swapna and Rahima Khatun were impressive. However, the inclusion of mediocre solo singers such as Popy Sarwar, JB Jharna and others was an anomaly.