Sur Jahan (previous name Sufi Sutra) is an annual three-day World Peace Music Festival with the motto of ‘Music for Peace, Music for All’ and has been held since 2011 at Kolkata till 2020. The festival has travelled to a few cities in the past for a few years like Panjim (2015 to 2020), New Delhi (2012, 2013, 2015, 2019) & 2019), Jaipur (2020), Patna (2014) and Dhaka (2014). The festival couldn't take place due to Covid19 after Feb 2020, and in this period, i.e, during 2021 & 2022, a localized version of the festival Folk Safar was organized at Kolkata, Panjim and Jaipur using only National level music bands. Sur Jahan is back again in Feb 2023, but to be held only in Kolkata. Sur Jahan is a non-ticketed festival, open to music lovers. Sur Jahan always presented Int'l music bands and had participation of world music bands from 32 countries till date. The format includes evening concerts and daytime workshops, and the USP of the festival is presentation of traditional acoustic instruments of various countries as well as folk music in various mother tongues/ vernacular languages, celebrating the essence of World Music, i.e, music of the world. Celebrating Cultural diversity and plurality is the basis of this festival, which also is the essence of Kolkata, the city of joy.
Till now 32 countries have participated in this folk festival since its inception in 2011.
Over 50 international teams from 32 countries have participated in 10 years.
Since 2011, 20 national teams have performed in Kolkata, Goa, Jaipur, Delhi and Patna.
Since 2011, the festival has been held in Kolkata, Patna, Goa, Delhi, Jaipur and Dhaka.
One of the biggest music festivals, 350 popular artists and their teams from India.
Over 1000 folk artists have performed on the Folkstage since its inception in 2017.
Over 10 years, over a lakh of people have enjoyed the concerts in different cities.
Since its inception, 330 internationally acclaimed singers have performed with their troupes in Sur Jahan.
Sur Jahan 2023 was held at Golf Green Central Park on 3-5 Feb by banglanatak dot com in collaboration with Golf Green Central Committee. Being a World Peace Music Festival, Sur Jahan upheld the motto of “Music for all; Music for Peace” and successfully celebrated global cultural diversity through music.
In Sur Jahan, along with presentations of world music, folk musical instruments were also played and showcased. Madagan, the folk music band from the North of Ireland presented their fusion music, which is a classic blend of traditional and contemporary English and Irish musical styles. Their music was accompanied by folk musical instruments, Uilleann Pipes (UNESCO recognised intangible asset) and Concertina, a free reed musical instrument. Mawlaiyah of Egypt captivated the audience with their dervish music and dance led by Amer Eltony and accompanied by their swirling dervish dance & traditional musical instrument like Qanun.
Leelabali, led by Saira Banu, showcased a colourful performance of traditional muslim wedding songs and dance which is only practised in the border region of Nadia Murshidabad. Qawwals of Jalangi, led by Chhote Golam, performed Bangla Qawwali, a variant of Baul Fakiri music, a musical genre revived by the Qawwals of Nadia and Murshidabad. Mirs of Rajasthan, performed at this festival in 2011 and returned this year. Mirs, residing in the western part of Rajasthan, presented their Sufi and Qawwali songs in Saraiki language. Rangamatir Baul led by Rina Das Baul from Birbhum’s Santiniketan, a renowned music group who performed in last year’s WOMEX, enchanted the audience with their Baul music and that was the inaugural performance in Sur Jahan 2023. The festival also presented Darbari Jhumur by Rarh Darbar led by Arpita Chakroborty and Bengal’s folk music by Folks of Bengal, an ensemble of urban folk musicians residing in Kolkata. The festival concluded with the Grand Finale, a musical collaboration where all the music bands and teams participated and showcased a musical presentation transcending the barriers of language and boundaries.
The site of Sur Jahan is abuzz through the entire span of the festival. A corner is dedicated to craftspeople engaging with visitors about traditional art and artisans displaying their unique artwork in the form of folk painting, embroidery, and weaving in designated stalls. They’re pleased to meet visitors and eager to answer questions about their process. Folk singers and performance artists holding crowds in thrall with little scheduled shows from afternoon to evening. The participating bands discuss their music, tradition, instruments, engage with the audience and collaborate with local bands. They even conduct and participate in small scale workshops during the mornings of Day 2 and Day 3. A little way away from this constant activity is the enchanted main stage, which only comes alive at sundown.
Over the years, many participating artists, both international and national have performed and brought the language of music to life. Invited guests return with beautiful memories and perhaps a food for thought for us. The audience has motivated us to be braver with their encouraging words and views. Here, we have strived to bring you these lived anecdotes from the performers, guests and viewers who have become part of the Sur Jahan family.
I would like to express the feeling of Muzsikas members and our two guests, Istvan and Hanga. Back in Hungary after a few days we know that a miracle was what happened to us. The music was great, b
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Dear Sur Jahan, we do not have words to thank you for all your work, organization, work, love for music and peace. You invited musical groups and festival organizers, and promoters, and at the end
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Thank you very much for having us at Sur Jahan 2018! The whole Tuuletar band and all documentary team members feel extremely honoured to have been able to share these two weeks and all expression w
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Thank you Sur Jahan for this amazing experience.
We are filled up with music, love, sunshine and gratitude.
Love you all very much, greetings from Helsinki.
Huge thanks that I could be with all of you at Sur Jahan. I came back home yesterday happy and full of unforgettable emotions and impressions Cheers from winter Poland.
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Although the winter is already in Poland, but Sur Jahan is in our hearts and still very warm after the wonderful experience at your magnificent music festival. We hope our routes will cross again a
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Common paths, dreams and music, thank you Sur Jahan for an amazing experience, a true celebration of togetherness and love through music, waiting for you in Poland.
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Sur Jahan is simply awesome, it was a real privilege to meet you all and feel the warmth and quality music and carnival atmosphere. I must say that these moments were very special for me and will r
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The promise was already included, never did we experience friendship through music so warm till we arrived at Sufi Sutra. Thanks so much for this wonderful inter-cultural meeting, surrounded by an
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I can only say THANK YOU a thousand times for letting me be a part of this musical miracle called Sufi Sutra! I felt so lonely and sad that day I had to leave for home. I even miss the food and st
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It’s Tommy from Atse Tewodros Project, I want to reply to you right now: THANK YOU!!! More than a week passed, and everyday I’m still thinking about the AMAZING experience that was Sur Jahan. I
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I begin by thanking ALL that was done for us. All the attention and the kindness you and your team put into each gesture. Thank you very very much.
Concerning your country, India, and especia
Sur Jahan is a jewel with very quality of music and super organization, thank you so much.
Mario
Sur Jahan is unique. Reception, Technical, Accommodation - everything was perfect. But there is something else, very rare : this is a festival for the musicians! We can meet all these wonderful peo
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Truly an amazing experience! To me and all of us at Sur Jahan, we saw the world full of peace and music. I learnt so many things from every musician from all over the world and I hope to see you ag
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Sur Jahan to me is where Responsible entrepreneurship meets art. I admire your artistic vision in combination with your social business concept. This should be considered a piece of art in itself.
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Sur Jahan is not just a festival.
It’s a meeting place where musicians and listeners get a chance to show their dedication to culture as a force of unification.
In these days of in
Read MoreOne of the biggest music extravaganzas in the heart of Kolkata allows you to explore hidden gems of Bengal. This grand music festival is an opportunity to enjoy the local culture and landscapes of West Bengal at its finest.
Sur Jahan is one of the biggest music festivals of India. Its evolution as a headliner music concert has been supported by various national and international media over time. Three days of extravaganza is covered by the leading dailies of Kolkata, Goa, and Delhi; previously by media in Patna and Dhaka too. Along with news channels and national streaming services, bloggers too flock to the music festival.
