Rumi fans, there's a music fest about to happen that you wouldn't want to miss

Calling all Rumi fans, you're in for a treat.

If you haven't already heard, Indus Valley Art School is holding a Rumi World Music Festival in Karachi to bring together musicians inspired by the great poet under one roof.

Rasheed Noorani, director CEP of IVS, explains what prompted the idea behind the festival: "In 2008, after UNESCO declared the year as the year of Rumi, the greatest spiritual poet in the world, every country has celebrated Rumi in some way or the other, a festival or event of some sort.

"It has happened in more than 42 countries. I remember the last time I was in Scotland, they were having a three-day Sufi conference inspired by the great saint. We don't have anything like that and I felt it's about time we have something like this," says the CEP.

He adds, "We have the KLF for a literature festival but we don't have anything for a music festival, a proper world music festival so to speak."

He expands that poets and Sufis who came after Rumi were inspired by him as "he represents the ultimate in Sufi poetry," hence a festival honouring him is much needed.

The festival aims to bring foreign artists to participate in the music fest as well. "We are doing some things differently. We're paying attention to the 'World' in Rumi World Music Festival and that's why we have many bands coming from abroad."

The line-up consists of quite a few unique bands.

"One of the bands is a throat singing band and I am excited for that because this is the first time a throat singing band is performing in Pakistan. Their name is Huun-Huur-Tu and they're coming from an area that is between Mongolia and Russia, a place called Tuva. Tuva has its own tradition of throat singing that is very famous in the world.

"They are shamans," he explains. "And throat singing was something shamans would learn to ward bad spirits, so its very ritualistic and spiritual, and that goes with the theme of our festival."

"We also have an Iranian band which will play classical instruments and recite the poetry of Rumi in Persian. We have other bands like Chand Tara, which will prepare a new score for the festival. Fuzon, Mai Dhai, Jamshed Sabri group, Fakir Juman Shah and so on."

For those interested in arts and crafts, there will be a craft bazaar where items related to the fest will be on display. There might be a few academic sessions too, but that's not sure as yet.

The festival will take place on March 10, 11 and 12. Tickets for the event are for Rs1500.