Sufi Celebration at Mysore Palace: King of Vocal Sufi “Pandit Mir Mukthiyar Ali”

                      Sufi Celebration at Mysore Palace: King of Vocal Sufi “Pandit Mir Mukthiyar Ali”-heylos

Sufism is a mystical movement of Islam. The name derives from the woolen clothing (suf), worn by Sufis as a token of penitence. The community drifted from the main stream with a different beliefs.  Many conservative Muslims disagree with many popular Sufi practices, particularly saint worship, the visiting of tombs, and incorporation some other non-Islamic customs. Consequently, in recent centuries Sufism has been a target for Islamic reformist and modernist movements. To some Sufism denotes humanitarianism, tolerance, harmony, love of mankind and the attempt to achieve spiritual fellowship. To a few, the Sufis are dreamers, rebels and meddlers who interfere with other religions. 

Right from Amir Khusro, who is the forefather of quawali and Tabla, to Rumi, Hafiz, Khwaja Gulam Farid to Mir Mukhtiyar Ali or Abbas Ali, they denote a different musical culture, through which they try to realize God.  The songs created by the Sufi singers are known as Sufiyana.  They use metaphors from day to day life, but an inner meaning will lead to a greater philosophy.  There are many exponents of Sufiyana and Mir Mukhyar Ali, is one of the acclaimed present day singers.

Mukhtiyar Ali is from a small village called Pugal 86 Kms from Bikaner of Rajasthan, just 40 Kms from the Pakistan border. He is from the semi-nomadic Mirasi Community which hails from the Thar Desert. Mukhtiyar represents the 26th generation of this humble lineage which has successfully kept alive the oral tradition of Sufiana Qalam. Mukhtiyar says that the 27th generation is also ready, as his 19 year old son is an exponent of Sufi music. 

It is said that not to sing is almost equivalent to Blasphemy in that community.   In lighter vain he says, nobody gives a girl in marriage to a young man whose family has no singer.   The music is practiced by listening to elders.  Only sometimes the elders may correct them, but regular tutelage is almost absent he says. The Mirasi lineage has preserved the heritage of Sufiana Qalam, through all these generations, witnessing war, droughts, religious backlash and economic penury. Mukhtiyar laments that rarely there is time to experience what the traditional music truly offers, the instant gratification, as in every field, in the name of comfort.

Mir Mukthiyar Ali says "I am the first person from the community to travel this far. My father found it intimidating to travel even to Bikaner," says Mukhtiyar and laughs.   This is in fact his third visit to Mysore.  He is humble enough to say that he has no formal training in Music and does not understand the Raag or Taal.  He has no formal education in a school too.

 The jam packed illuminated Palace began submerging and dancing to the tune of his songs Some of the popular numbers which he sang tonight were O Mera Sona Sajan of Khusru, Khaja Mere Khwaja of Khwaja Garib Nawaz.  A Sufi concert without the most popular Dhamaa Dham Mast Khalandar can never be complete. Many from the auditorium were seen dancing to the tune, with frenzy. The last but one song Sang Ik Pal Chain Na Aave, a Rajasthani folk song, in Sufi style, also got equal response from the audience.  He concluded with Mera Piya Ghar Nahi Aya of Khusru, with thunderous claps from the listeners and asking for more.

We from the heylos team were lucky enough to spend a couple of minutes with this renowned singer who has travelled far and vide across the globe from Belgium,Greece to London and has attracted millions of followers for his god gifted talented voice . we were extremely happy and amazed to see such down to earth personality who agreed to take a memorable pics even after 2 long hours of performance. He runs a school at his village where you can participate and teach the kids .This school named “Sarojini”is very unique because none of his community members have ever gone to school, hence he has made all efforts to make his community a better place to live and educate the children.

Mukhtiyar has an amazing range in his voice and though he claims that he has no formal training in music, landing in the perfect Swara from anywhere is remarkable.  In all, he won the hearts of connoisseurs of Mysore.  He was accompanied by Fakruddin in co-singing and on the Harmonium, Dayam Ali Khan on Sarangi, Ashok Kumar on Tabla and Rakesh Kumar on Dholak.  The songs though rhythmic, have many things to ponder over and not meant for an emotional dance. The deep message of wisdom, love, peace and dignity for all life inherent in the teachings of these Sufi mystics, will be lost if the Sufiyana is equated to that category

For his live music visit www.youtube.com/heylosinc , 

Famous Teri Dewani song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhzYGWJUrrM
More pics at www.facebook.com/heylosinc

Thank you

keep watching this space

Heylos

Dreamgirl Hemamalini dance performance at "Mysore Dasara 2013" - Ballet "Mahalakshmi"

Hema Malini performs 'Mahalaxmi' during 'Mysore Dasara 2013 ', held in the backdrop of the illuminated Mysore Palace on October 8, 2013 after 6 years.

She is an exponent of bharatanatyam ,kuchipudi, mohiniyattam, her mastery of these dance forms left the audience mesmerized ,Hemamalini continued to rule the hearts of lakhs of audience gathered at the mysore palace who were left spell bounded by her perfect depiction of goddess. This bollywood super star said there would be no hema without her dance and dance is her oldest and most loyal companion

Hema Malini looks graceful while performing a dance ballet 'Mahalaxmi' during 'Mysore dasara 2013', held in Mysore Palace  on October 8, 2013

Ballet “Mahalaxmi” revolves around the tale of mythology “Samudra manthan” which happens between devas(God’s) and asuras(Demons) during which  many precious life emerged  like kamadhenu(Holy Cow), kalpavyruksha(Holy tree) ,Apsaras(Celestial Nymph)

,and then our Goddess “Mahalaxmi” was  born .

As she emerges from “Samudra manthan” she will start noticing a rich guy without courage, a strong person without age, like this she refuses all “asuras” and “devas” but finally bowing to Lord “Vishnu” , there love blossoms and they get married .

One day sage “Bhrigu” visits vaikuntam(Abode of Vishnu)  finds lord Vishnu immersed in conversation with Mahalaxmi and fails to  notice him , This  angers the sage and he kicks lord on his chest the place where his love  mahalaxmi resides. At once , Vishnu hastened to apologize to angry sage and pressed his feet to allay causing the pain to Sage’s leg ,in doing so lord Vishnu removes the eye at the foot of the sage, stripping of his special powers . that’s when sage concluded that Vishnu is the supreme god .

During this Mahalakshmi was angered seeing her lord in apologizing condition to  Sage who had committed an offense, out of anger she leaves Vaikunta and resides in Kolhapur.

Seeing the agony faced by lord Vishnu, all the other devas try their best to bring back goddess . By then she gets her “Ashtalakshmis”.  Moved by her love towards Vishnu and request from all gods she moves back to vaikunta.

Hema Malini’s  stupendous performance of her well choreographed ‘Mahalakshmi’ ballet that kept the audience transfixed and asking for more .The show concluded with a standing ovation from the audience and the danseuse, who was equally impressed by the strong crowd, had a few words to say about Mysore. “I consider it a blessing to have performed here in Mysore on the auspicious occasion of Dasara.

More to come from Famous artists at Mysore Dasara 2013

Traditional music and dance concerts by 192 artistes including local artistes and those of state, national and international acclaim, dances by 40 Russian artistes, Hindustani concert by Pandit Jesraj, fusion music by Louis Banks, Sufi music by Mukthiyar Ali, Tabla by Rimpa Shiva  will enthral art lovers between October 5 and 13.

wish u all happy dasara

heylos

Hema Malini ‘Mahalakshmi’ leaves ‘high culture’ audience spell bound!! - See more at: http://dumkhum.com/2013/01/02/hema-malini-mahalakshmi-leaves-high-culture-audience-spell-bound/#sthash.lBl9MOFH.dpuf

Hema Malini ‘Mahalakshmi’ leaves ‘high culture’ audience spell bound!! - See more at: http://dumkhum.com/2013/01/02/hema-malini-mahalakshmi-leaves-high-culture-audience-spell-bound/#sthash.lBl9MOFH.dpuf

Events,Tickets,Celebrities,Dasara Sports- At  Mysore Dasara Oct 5- Oct 14th 2013

Also For updates visit www.fb.com/heylosinc

About: Mysore Dasara is the famous festival of India where tourists from all across the world flock together to witness this amazing colorful celebration. The Main attraction being the trained elephants who carry the golden chariot, Palace which is  dazzlingly illuminated by almost 100,000 light bulbs, nightly from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.,. Numerous music and dance performances take place at the Palace and other venues. There's also a food festival, film festival, heritage walk, wrestling competition, and sightseeing to local tourist places.

Celebrities at the Mysore Dasara:

This Year most of the celebrities from the B-town are expected to arrive for the celebration. Some of them included are Deepika padukone, Sonu Nigam, Shivamani (On Drums), Sunidhi, Sukhvinder and many more.

 Dasara sports:  inaugurated by Our Nation’s Pride Mr Milka Singh.

 Tentative Program List: Dates: Oct 7th – 12^th)

7-10-2013: Performing artists: Sri Sridhar Jain and famous playback singer Shaan

8-10-2013: Performing artists: Famous playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan

9-10-2013: Performing artists: Shivamani (On Drums) and famous playback singer Vijay Prakash

10-10-2013: Performing artists: Famous playback singer Sukhvinder Singh

11-10-2013: Performing artists: Baby Anjana Indian Idol Junior Winner.

You can also find lot of never seen before Folk artists and tribal performances who come out only during festivals

Link to buy Gold Card Online: http://tickets.ticketgenie.in/buyticketsv1.aspx?companyEventGroupIDUnique=26&companyeventidunique=57

Price: 7500 INR.

Entry for two adults and one child upto 6 years

Please produce the Gold Card at the entrance.

Gold Card is valid from Oct 5th – Oct 14th, 2013.

Facilities on Purchase of Dasara Gold Card 2013:

Dasara Procession – Jumboo Savaari on October 14th, 2013 – 11:00 AM Assured seats for two persons

Torch Light Parade-October 14th, 2013 – 7:00 PM Assured seats for two persons

Entry through JAYAMARTANDA GATE (Palace East Gate No – 3)

Free vehicle parking at Doddakere Maidana. (Opposite Jayamarthanda Gate No 3)

Limited free car parking facility at Gate No. 3 on first come, first serve basis.

 

Gold Card bearers have Free Entry to the following tourist places: 

a)      Mysore Palace

b)      Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden (Mysore Zoo)

c)       Jaganmohana Art Gallery

d)      Karanji Lake Nature Park

e)      Rail Museum

f)       Regional Museum of Natural History

g)      Ranganatittu Bird Santuary

h)      Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) or Brindavan Gardens

i)        Chamundi Temple (VIP Darshan)

j)        St. Philomena’s Church

k)      Dasara Exhibition

DASARA HELPLINE Control Room: 0821 - 2423800 
Destination of the events

Tribute to Steve Jobs: For the best products he has given

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died on Wednesday October 5, 2011, but he left behind a legacy full of iconic products. We've rounded up some of the most significant ones for Heylos followers.

Steve jobs was an American entrepreneur, marketer and inventor who was the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc.

Steve Jobs was out to change the world. He said so on more than one occasion, and yelled it on others. He irrevocably altered the worlds of computers, communication, cinema and creative arts: His products sent tremors through the markets they entered and created new landscapes for others to build upon. These products represent Steve Jobs' most iconic creations --perfect blends of groundbreaking tech, sleek design, keen marketing, and most importantly, Steve himself.

Apple II (1977)

The Apple II was Apple’s first major success. It was the first computer to come in a plastic case, which helped the personal computer progress from hobbyist obsession to consumer product. The computer brought IT power into small and medium businesses, and its success drove Jobs’ belief that design could help bridge the gap between computers and ordinary people.

Macintosh (1984)

"The computer for the rest of us" introduced the mouse and graphical user interfaces to a mainstream audience; two revolutionary innovations that contributed to make a computer so simple, so intuitive, that a child could understand it. The Macintosh created a consumer expectation that computers could be sleek, simple and user-friendly.

Pixar (1986)

Jobs left Apple in 1985, and the year following, bought a small animation studio from Lucasfilm for $5 million. In 1995, following the release of Toy Story, he finally saw the fruits of Pixar's labors. For the next decade and a half, the studio produced blockbuster after blockbuster, changing the landscape of the entertainment business.  On January 24, 2006, Jobs and Iger announced that Disney had agreed to purchase Pixar in an all-stock transaction worth $7.4 billion.; to date, the studio has taken home 10 Oscars and been nominated for 30 more.

Mac OS X (2001)

The tenth edition of Apple's core operating system didn't start its life at Apple. Its origins lie in work that Jobs and his team did on NeXTSTEP, an operating system built at NeXT, the company he founded after leaving Apple in 1985. Apple bought NeXT in 1997; soon after Jobs resumed his CEO duties, and the OS was adopted for future release. OS X has proven so successful and versatile that it was adapted as iOS for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

iTunes (2001) / iTunes Store (2001)

The iTunes media player software allowed users to organize their digital music collection; paired with the iTunes Store, it revolutionized the music business and changed the way we consume our media. After a court-ordered injunction brought down the music-sharing service Napster, industry insiders were still trying to figure out how to retrain consumers to pay for music: Jobs’ answer was ease of use and

convenience. iTunes now sells millions of tracks a day, yielding billions in revenue.

iPod (2001)

The iPod didn't just change how we store our music: It changed how we listen to it. No longer limited to a CD at a time, users could listen to single after single, making the track significantly more important than the album it was released on. With its signature click wheel, the iPod became an icon of Apple’s unmatched capacity for simplicity in design and insight into pure usability.

iPhone (2007)

The iPhone struck the telecommunications world like a lightning bolt, and changed mobile computing profoundly. It wasn't the first phone with a touch screen, but it was the first that felt intuitive and fun. For the first time a phone boasted software and hardware that were perfectly in sync.

iOS App Store (2008)

The App Store took a revolutionary product --the iPhone-- and took it to another level, where suddenly the user experience could change near-instantly. Need a piece of software to finish a job, or a game to entertain you for a few minutes? The App store put a world of software at your fingertips. It also created a massive infrastructure for independent developers, allowing them to easily distribute their work and make money from every sale. As of January 2011, more than 10 billion apps had been downloaded from the store.

iPad (2010)

Critics laughed when the name of Apple’s tablet was released, but nobody’s laughing now. The iPad made mobile computing easy, accessible and fun --and brought publishers of print media clamoring to make tablet editions. It wasn’t the first tablet on the scene, but it was the first without a stylus or a keyboard: By the end of 2010 it had 75 percent of the tablet computer market share.

Mysore Dasara - A festival of Indian culture - heylos

Mysore has a rich history with many pre-historic sites, monuments, forts, temples, mosques and churches depicting the archaeological, architectural and heritage value of the region. Mysore possesses excellent fauna and flora, rivers, hillocks, lakes and a moderate climate.

Mysore is the third largest city in Karnataka, India which served as the capital city of Mysore Princely Kingdom (Kingdom of Mysore) for nearly 6 centuries, from 1399 until 1947. The Kingdom of Mysore was ruled by the Wodeyar dynasty. The cultural ambience and achievements of Mysore earned it the sobriquet Cultural Capital of Karnataka.

With founding of Mysore dynasty in 1399 AD by Yaduraya, Mysore has seen 25 rulers. Till emergence of Raja Wodeyar in 1578 AD, the Mysore Kingdom was a small feudatory Kingdom under the Vijayanagar Empire. With the fall of Vijayanagar Empire in 1565 AD, the Wodeyars inherited and perpetuated the traditions of Vijayanagar Empire. Raja Wodeyar ascended the throne in 1610 AD, in Srirangapatna, the erstwhile capital and inaugurated the Dasara Festivities which are still celebrated with all grandeur. The most celebrated Kings after Raja Wodeyar who contributed to the cultural heritage of Mysore are Ranadhira Kanthirava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638 -1659 AD), Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar (1673 -1704 AD), Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar (III) (1799 – 1868 AD), Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar (IV) (1902 -1940 AD) and Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar from 1940 till the establishment of the Republic of India.

Between 1761 and 1799, Hyder Ali along with his son Tippu Sultan ruled the State. With the defeat of Tippu Sultan by the British at Srirangapatna in 1799, five years old Prince Krishnaraja Wodeyar (III) was installed as the King of Mysore, on the throne of his ancestors. Wodeyars contributed a great deal towards arts and culture. Palaces, temples, the Mysore school of traditional painting, women’s schools and colleges and music maestros bear witness to the liberal grants and patronage of Mysore kings.

Mysore was the only highly industrialized and progressive native state in India in steel, silk, soaps and hydro-electricity. The kingdom was benefited from visionaries like Sir Mirza Ismail and Sir M. Visveswaraya who served under the Wodeyars as Dewans.

The city is also known, throughout the world, for the pomp and gaiety with which the traditional Dasara Festival is held here annually during the Navaratri. The tourists would throng the city from all over the country and abroad in great numbers to witness the Jamboo Savari(Elephants’ procession), the chief attraction on the occasion in which decorated elephants walk the procession route, majestically. The Maharaja used to sit in the howdah earlier.

The tradition was maintained in full vigour for more than a decade even after the country acquired independence. Now, under the changed political and administrative conditions, Dasara is being organized in the city in a modified form as Naada Habba, festival of the land. On the tenth day of the festival, the grand procession of Goddess Chamudenshwari accompanied by umpteen tableaux is the chief attraction.

Festivities were first started by the Wodeyar King, Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617 CE) in the year 1610. The Mysore Palace is lit up on all the 10 days of Dasara. The festivities begin with the Wodeyar royal couple performing a special puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari in the Chamundi Temple located on the top of Chamundi Hill at Mysore. This would be followed by a special durbar (royal assembly). It was during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in the year 1805, when the king started the tradition of having a special durbar in the Mysore Palace during Dasara, which was attended by members of the royal family, special invitees, officials and the masses.

This tradition has been continued even now with the current scion of the Wodeyar family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar holding a private durbar during Dasara. The ninth day of Dasara called as Mahanavami is also an auspicious day on which the royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a procession involving elephants, camels and horses.

On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as Jamboo Savari) is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed in a golden howdah on the top of a decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the royal couple and other invitees before it is taken around in the procession. Colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, armed forces, folklores, the royal identities, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap, where the Banni tree (Prosopis spicigera) is worshipped.

According to a legend of the Mahabharata, Banni tree was used by the Pandavas to hide their arms during their one-year period of Agnatavasa (living life incognito). Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war. The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayithu (torch-light parade).

Another major attraction during Dasara is the Dasara exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds opposite to the Mysore Palace. This exhibition starts during Dasara and goes on till December. Various stalls which sell items like clothes, plastic items, kitchenware, cosmetics and eatables are set up and they attract a significant amount of people. A Game area containing attractions like Malla Yudha or kusti and Ferris-wheel is also present to provide entertainment to the people. Various Governmental agencies setup stalls to signify the achievements and projects that they have undertaken.

Come join us for the celebration - heylos

heylos intends to cover the dasara for those who cant make it
So keep watching us, more to come

cheers,

heylos 

for the creative, art, culture and many more