For God's sake

Enough of roaming done-to-death dance clubs day in, night out. Cleanse your soul by being part of the Places of Worship fest in town

Aren't you sick and tired of burping on the same old beer and chomping on the stale ol' popcorn all the time? Of glamorous gigs that scream out anything but quality music? Of theatre with more acting, less character? When was the last time your cultural outing was about soul searching made fun?

Chuck all stuff predictable and be part of the ongoing Places of Worship Festival, which reflects the religious and the cultural diversity of the city. Being held for the second time this year, it aims at revealing the different forms of expression of worship. "This year, we have chosen different venues and states. Also, there are the guided tours to New and Old Delhi," says Parminder Singh, Executive Director.

Isn't it communally provocative, you'd wonder. No, they say. "Our aim is not to be political about it, but we are trying to gather people and educate them," he clarifies. But isn't spirituality more about spontaneity than guided faith? "I can't say if this fest will actually make people return to true spirituality, but there will definitely be some benefits," he assures. Take your pick from all the piety on your platter.

Places of Worship Festival
Sattriya's Journey from Sattra to Stage - a talk by Arshiya Sethi
At The Attic,u00a0u00a0
When February 18, 6.30 pmu00a0

Sattriya dance is from the eastern state of Assam, and is located in a matrix of an intense system of belief. It has been extracted from a theatrical tradition and raises several questions of motivation, cultural property and management, appropriation and future of the style. This talk will firstly demystify its background, contextual crucible and its aesthetics. The second part will touch upon some political issues and explain how the form has been impacted.

Walk No 1
At Banyan Tree IGNCA, Janpath (Opposite National Archives) to Vishwa Shanti Stupa to The Judah Hyam Synagogue to Gurudwara Rakab Ganj to Sacred Heart Cathedral. Followed by walking on Mandir Marg from Kali Bari up to Birla mandir.
When February 20, 2 pm to 6 pmu00a0

Walk No 2
At Banyan Tree IGNCA, Janpath (Opposite National Archives) to Parsi Ajuman via Darya Ganj driving past the Jama Masjid onto Chandni Chowk. Jain Lal Mandir to Gauri Shankar Temple to Gurudwara Sisganj to Sunehri Mosque to Fatehpuri Mosque to St. Stephens Church. The walk will end at the picturesque Bagh-e-Bedil for the Qawwali .
When February 25, 2 pm to 6 pmu00a0

These two walks have been created by Robinson with the desire to bring forth the unique diversity that existed within the city of Delhi and the religious tolerance that still makes all these places of worship an important living part of the capital.

Sattriya dance
At Birla Mandir
When February 20, 6.30 pmu00a0
This dance form was born in the year 2000 and grew within the rigid disciplines and austerities of the 'Sattras' (monasteries). Originally the themes of Sattriya Nritya were mythological or as accompaniments to one act plays (Ankiya Naat). The dance programme consists of
1. Gayan Bayanu00a0- The Bayan consists of about a dozen male 'khol' (drums) players and the Gayan (male singers) set the devotional atmosphere of the Ankia Nat performance.
2. Sattriya Danceu00a0- Guru Vandana, Jhumura dance, Krishna Vandana, Chali dance, Bargeet and Raas Nritya.
The dancers for the evening are Indira PP Bora, Snigdha Kangkan Taid, Riju Pathak, Sushmita Gautam and Reema Bora while the musicians consists of Nityananda Deka (vocal), Sri Jogen Basumatari (flute), Sri Pabitra Bhagawati (khol).

Persian Qawwali
The recital in the qawwali style of the Persian Poetry of Mirza Abdul Qadir "Bedil" by Chand Nizami and group
At Bagh-e-Bedil, opp Matka Peer, Mathura Road
When February 25, 6.30 pmu00a0
The songs which constitute the qawwali repertoire are mostly in Urdu and Punjabi but this evening in a collaborative experiment with Dr Akhlaque Ahmad 'Aahan' , Sohail Hashmi, the conceptualiser of this event and Ustad Chand Nizami and his group, who have specially learned these verses in Persian. They bring you possibly the first ever recitation and singing of Bedils poetry in the Qawwali form.
The qawwals are Chand Nizami, Shadab Faridi Nizami, Sohrab Faridi Nizami and party.
This event will be preceded by the release of "Mirza Bedil", the recently published work on the life and work of Mirza Abdul Qadir Bedil, authored by Professor Nabi Hadi, with a preface by Dr Akhlaq Ahmad Aahan, who has also edited the volume.

Tibetan Sacred Music
Nawang Khechog & Chukie Kelsangu00a0
At Vishwa Shanti Stupa
When March 2, 6.30 pm
The International Festival of Sacred Arts presents two of the most famous Tibetan performersu00a0-- Nawang Kechog living in the US and Chukie Kelsan Tethong living in Dharamsala -- who have never performed in Majnu ka Tilla before.
The quieter we are, the closer we get... - harmonic chanting by David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir
At Sacred Heart Cathedral
When March 3, 6.30 pmu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0