International Sufi Centre to come up in Amritsar

Speaking at the inaugural of a two-day International Sufi festival here, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the centre would be exclusively devoted for in-depth research in Sufism.

Badal also announced that this upcoming centre would hold mega Sufi concerts every year, adding that the state government would extend all its support to make the International Sufi festival an annual affair.

About 30 international Sufi scholars, 25 international poets, 50 Sufi musicians, singers and dancers from 13 countries are participating in the festival organised by Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature, Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board and Khalsa College.

 

Appreciating the efforts in organising the Sufi meet, Badal said there was a need for holding such cultural meets frequently to further foster the bonds of friendship, goodwill, mutual trust and harmony, especially among people of India and Pakistan who share a common cultural bondage having lingual and socio-cultural similarity.

The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the organisers of the festival.

Inaugurating the Sufi festival, Punjab Governor Shivraj V Patil said Sufism had impacted cultures of several countries across the world and he was elated to see that the festival had aptly captured its essence.

Welcoming the participants from 13 countries, Patil said he hoped that the festival continues in coming years and would attract more countries to participate in it.

Addressing the gathering, Patil said the state government had initiated several projects to develop Punjab, especially holy city of Amritsar, as a world class tourist destination.

He also urged the residents of the city to contribute towards keeping the city clean, beautiful and tourist friendly, saying that it was the duty of all the Punjabis to preserve the rich heritage of the state.