Universal Sufi Festival

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Universal Sufi Festival (USF)

Inner view of the Hall while the 9th Universal Sufi Festival 2012 was being observed.
Location(s) Muslim Inistitute Hall, Chittagong
Years active 2004- Present
Founded by Sayed Zafor Sadek
Date(s) March 21 corresponding Choitro 7
Website www.rahebhander.org

The Universal Sufi Festival (USF) Bengali: মহাত্মা সম্মেলন is an annual festival observed on March 21 corresponding Choitro 7 of Bengali Calendar year. It takes place at the Muslim Institute Hall in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The precis of this Festival is "Enlightened Soul's Introspective Utterance".

History

The first initiated Sufi disciple (Murid) Among male followers Mohammed Shaiful Alam Naidu proposed to organize a program in honor of own Sufi Master {Murshid/ Pir (Sufism)} Sayed Zafor Sadek who is the surviving Sufi Master of Rahe Bhander Sufi Order (Rahe Bhander Tariqa).[1] Then he and another disciple Syed Moshiur Rahman Rahat arranged a program at the yard of Rahe Bhander- the Kadhurkhil Mono Theological Resource Center which is well known in the region as Rahe Bhander Kadhurkhil Dorbar Sharif situated at Chittagong District. The program took place on March 21, 2003 according to the support and contribution of all other disciples and followers of the Sufi Order as a newly added type of event among some other ongoing annual and monthly Sufi programs over years beyond his permission. Sayed Zafor Sadek attended but expressed his opinion disliking such a program for none but him, while addressing the occasion. Due to heartiest desire of own followers latterly he agreed to continue but reshaped the program and started to organize 'Mohatta Sommelon'(Bengali: মহাত্মা সম্মেলন) entitled in the native language Bengali since 2004. Since then he added Free Treatment and Blood Donation as the additional ceremony of the festival. His aim and ambition was to establish unity among Sufi followers and to build up a universal platform for Sufi Masters of all the Sufi Orders round the globe where they may, express their theological and social experiences for the next generation and proceeded step by step.

The organizer Sayed Zafor Sadek did not use any religious word like 'Islamic' or 'Sufi' in his native language. While the festival becomes enriched by its participants and well-wishers, he liked to enlarge its circle. Though, his will was to do something for the entire human society but it was being organized nationally earlier. By the year 2010 he approved 'Universal Sufi Festival' as an English title for the 'Mohatta Sommelon' disregarding words like international, global or Islamic but took the word 'Universal' (Universal history) for a historic and common purposes of own Sufi Order and 'Sufi' to expose the dignity of the festival easily in modern global communication. Eventually, this year the festival itself became oriented as an international festival. A number of international Sufi Masters expressed their support and contribution by sending valuable text and video messages addressing the audience from USA, England, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Uzbekistan and Myanmar as the overseas distinguished guest of the Universal Sufi Festival. All those messages were recited and explored in the hall. It is to add that, the website[2] of Rahe Bhander Sufi Order launched at December 21st, 2012 in the aspect of their quest.

The festival is being organized by Rahe Bhander Kadhurkhil Dorbar Sharif (Rahe Bhander- The Kadhurkhil Mono Theological Resource Center) in association with some organizations like Association of Rahe Bhander Affectionate, Scholars' Association of Rahe Bhander, Youth Association of Rahe Bhander Affectionate, Rahe Bhander Multimedia and Sufi Musicians' Association of Rahe Bhander etc. Sayed Zafor Sadek as the Sufi Master is the key person.

Venue

Though, the Universal Sufi Festival previously took place at The Rahe Bhander Khadhurkhil Dorbar Sharif since the beginning but it is now a day, being observed at the Muslim Institute Hall which is situated in the central zone of Chittagong city. It is one of the most historical and ancient community center of the country.

Earlier session

Inaugural ceremony

Every year the inaugural ceremony of USF gets a look of socio-religious value. The festival starts by flying national flag of Bangladesh as native and reciting some verses of the Quran including its meaning and Commentary. A number of pigeon make free as a symbol of peace and a banner release on the air by balloons to celebrate the inaugural ceremony.

Discussion on humanity

In the first half of the festival the Discussion on Humanity observes as the main segment. A number of public and social figures of different professions take part in this stage program. They address the audience about the noble characteristics and virtues as the elements of a well established society. They discuss according to their practical experience and knowledge focusing on social awareness and the development of human manner.

Blood donation ceremony

Blood is essential for every living person and it is easy to donate. A sound body needs nothing but own will force. Such a donation can save a life. In this aspect, the Sufi Master encourage own followers to donating their own as a symbol of mass encouragement. A number of people willingly donate blood as noble event on the occasion which is being operated in association with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Chittagong city unit since 2004.[3]

Free treatment

This event started in view of providing free health facilities for the deprived. It is a symbolic propaganda likewise WHO encouraging capable to help the distressed and promote the health facilities for every individuals. Annually the organizing body manages a number of specialist physicians to serve health care for free of charge on this day.

Mediator session

Universal Sufi conference

The principal aim and ambition of the Universal Sufi Festival is to establish unity among Sufi Masters, and the followers of their Sufi Orders. The significant desire is to build up a universal platform for Sufi Masters of all the Sufi Orders round the globe where they may express their theological and social experiences for the next generation. Thus the way, the generation will get lessons of Sufi values and morality. In fact, this is the most valuable segment of the entire festival. Eventually, a number of Sufi Masters of different Sufi Orders attend the ceremony as honorable distinguished guests physically from distant part of the national region meanwhile; some other Sufi Masters and related professionals like author, organizer and professors contribute by sending their valuable text and multimedia messages from international region as the Distinguished Overseas Guests. They express their thought, teachings and the way how one may achieve the blessings of Allah and Mohammed simultaneously, living among a peaceful cultural society in view of their own theological experience where none will remain harmful to others. The governing body does not accept any topic promoting religious or political extremism and terrorism.

Award distribution ceremony

The Rahe Bhander Ennoble Award is an annual award to ennoble some persons whose are dedicated and committed to work for the welfare and development of lifestyle and moral awareness among the Sufi community as well as the society in a body. Significantly, this award is to encourage and introduce the new generation with those noble persons and their fields of dedication. There a jury board is to select such dedicated figures for the award through some specific rules and regulations. The governing body prefers alive rather than passed due to show respect in their lifetime. As the newly added event of the Universal Sufi Festival it begins since the year 2012. This year ten individuals were honoreded by the award.

Multimedia presentation

Some Multimedia projects related to the festival in aspect of Sufism and its rituals display on the occasion in this part very often. Basically it is the segment to display the messages of the Distinguished Overseas Guests as they addressed the audience.

Concluding prayer

In this segment the whole audience take part with the Distinguished Guests in a voice while, conveying praises to Allah as the creator and his apostle Prophet Mohammed (May, peace of Allah be upon him and to his followers). They used to pray for the peace and prosperity of every individuals and the society. It is a religious prayer and ends by the Munajat (Prayer for peace and prosperity for every individual as well as the society).

Enclosing session

Mystic Musical Ceremony

Mystical Music (Sufi music) combined all the Sufi of the society in a global abandonment. In Sufi teaching it is considers as the desire of Soul. In the philosophical perspective of the Rahe Bhander Doctrine mystical music has a significant value. They take it as a part of Servitude[4] / Ibadah to the creator. In this aspect, they don't arrange this musical segment as an eventful display of groups but an event of prayer. Here the members of the Sufi Musicians' Association of Rahe Bhander perform the Sufi music including some invited musicians. All the visitors and guests take part while chanting together in the Mystic Musical Ceremony/ Sem'mah Mahfil. It is a traditionally valuable event of the Rahe Bhander Sufi Order.

Tabarruk distribution

Tabarruk has a philological meaning and a religious value. There the dinner tabarruk become distributed among all the attendance at the very end of the Festival.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sufism -- Sufis -- Sufi Orders/ Sufism's Many Paths, Dr. Alan Godlas, University of Georgia". 
  2. ↑ "Website of Rahe Bhander Sufi Order". 
  3. ↑ "Metro / Events : Blood donation camp held". The Independent. Friday, 23 March 2012 Author: Staff Reporter. 
  4. ↑ "Mohammed's Allah / author : Ahmed Hulusi". 

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.