Kashmiri Sufi music brings closing ceremony alive

Srinagar, Sep 10: The closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) came alive with the soulful strains of Kashmiri folk and Sufi music as renowned singer Gulzar Ahmad Ganai, popularly known as Gulzar Ganie, captivated the audience with his performance.
Gulzar Ganie presented the popular Kashmiri Sufi kalam ‘Yaar Doad Naar Khoth’, penned by celebrated Kashmiri Sufi poet Wahab Khar. His soulful rendition filled the venue with the rich sounds of Kashmir’s traditional musical heritage and drew warm applause from the gathering.
The performance added a distinct Kashmiri cultural flavour to the closing ceremony, creating a deeply evocative atmosphere and highlighting the enduring appeal of the region’s Sufi musical tradition.
Wahab Khar is regarded as one of Kashmir’s celebrated Sufi poets. His poetry, deeply rooted in spirituality, devotion and the cultural ethos of Kashmir, continues to resonate through traditional Sufi and folk music. His kalams remain an integral part of the region’s rich oral and musical heritage.
Gulzar Ganie, a renowned exponent of Kashmiri folk music, Sufiyana Kalam and Chakri, has devoted decades to preserving and promoting Kashmir’s traditional musical heritage.
The performance added a fitting cultural touch to the IFFJK closing ceremony, celebrating Kashmir’s enduring legacy of music, poetry and artistic expression. (KNO)