Pakistan 2001/02/04 Qalandar Sufi + 'qawali'
Channel: MrVabenesch
Date: 2012-03-04

Sehwan Sharif once was a home for Hinduism and Buddhism. Now it is a center for Pakistani Sufism. Every year about 1 million people gather to visit the shrine of a 13th century Sufi saint, the 'Red Falcon'. A mesmerizing mix of spirituality and party madness. Dancing derwishes, peasants, high ranking politicians and holy men are connecting here in worship for Lal Shabazz.
Sufism as a tolerated form of Islam is widespread -- from Marocco to India, from Georgia to Sudan. Famous poets like Rumi were translated for western followers, Nusrat Fath Ali Khan was a musician respected and produced in Europe and the US. The omnipresent joy, the love of the pilgrims for their saint - and every human being - is very touching, other aspects are disturbing at times. Like self flagellation in remembrance of muslim martyrs, the mix of philospical depth in its leaders vs. the visible, sometimes drug-induced madness of some of their followers.
LOVE is the big key to Sufism: love for your fellow human being, love for saints, love for god -- and love for what is holding it all together: excstatic music and wild dancing. 
These videos I mixed from scenes I filmed when in Pakistan in 2001, 2002 and 2004. 
The music I made in 2009 and 2011 for my albums 'Human touch' and 'Orchesterwerke'. This track is downloadable for free from http://soundcloud.com/gerald-benesch
Check out the colourful photomontages I made from my travels to Pakistan, India, Eritrea and Mongolia: www.retravelredream.yolasite.com
Enjoy!
THX to my bros Sikander, Juman Shah, crazy Mr. Jaffri, Jidri Fakir, that unknown derwish - and Mr. Johnny Love!