Muslims musicians perform at Ardh Kumbh Mela

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Jan 22: Showcasing pluralistic Indian culture at the world famous Ardh Kumbh Mela here, Muslim musicians are performing for 'sanyasis' entrusted with the propagation of the 'Sanatan Dharma'.

Spanning from the Ram Lakhan, Master, Janta, Azad to Dhuandhaar Band, band parties, comprising chiefly of Muslim musicians are the mainstay of procession of the 12 'akharas' which have already performed two 'shahi snans' (royal baths) in the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers.

''The procession of the 'akharas', comprising sadhus, sanyasis and naga sadhus, would be the main attraction of the last three 'shahi snans' at the Kumbh, but these eye-catching processions are incomplete without our musical tunes,'' said Salim, the band-master of decade old Dhuandaar band from Arail, Allahabad.

Leaving the prime money-spinner filmy and bhangra tunes behind the band parties take to playing unlimited devotional tunes, including 'Shiv Dhun,' 'Ram Dhun,' 'Om Namah Shivay,' 'Ganga Maiya Ho Ganga Maiya' and Arti and Bhakti dhuns' during the Ardh Kumbh, the largest religious congregation in the world.

''This is our fourth generation that is playing devotional tunes for the 'akharas' going to take royal bath in the Sangam. Any Muslim or Hindu band player, who does not know how to play 'bhajans' and other devotional tunes cannot claim to be a full fledged trumpeter in Allahabad,'' Ashraf, Aslam and Sayeed, other members of the ten Muslim and six Hindu band party told UNI