RUMI FEST  is a multi-cultural event designed to appeal to various faiths and ethnicities, promoting Rumi's universal message of love. This one-night-only event will take place on Saturday, October 23 at the Trinity-St.Paul Centre in Toronto.

RUMI FEST 2010 will feature performances by: Coleman Barks, Whirling Dervishes with Sufi Music, (Canadian Sufi Cultural Centre), Garo & Friends and a special guest performance of Irshad Khan, the sitar maestro. It will also feature an art exhibit by: THE OPEN EASEL revolving around Rumi's work.

During his lifetime Rumi produced over 70,000 verses of inspiring and devotional poetry, encapsulating the Sufi’s experience of union with the divine. These timeless classics have witnessed a renaissance in recent years, as Rumi has become one of the most popular poets in the world. His poetry is wide ranging and encompasses many different ideas, but running deep within his work is the essential theme of longing and search for a union with the Divine. Rumi himself was a great mystic. His outpourings of poetry are a reflection of his own inner consciousness.

Coleman Barks is the acclaimed author of twenty-one volumes of Rumi translations including the bestselling Essential Rumi. He taught American Literature and Creative Writing at various universities for thirty-four years, and seven volumes of his poetry have been published.

Whirling Dervishes with Sufi Music originated among the Turkish Sufis. The practice of Sufi whirling (sema) is a devotional meditative dance that has been passed down to devotees of the Mevlevi Sufi order for centuries. It is a symbolic ritual through which dervishes (or semazens) aim to reach spiritual perfection.

Garo Altinian is a singer-songwriter influenced particularly by the Vedanta and Sufi traditions and has been composing and playing inspirational and devotional music for many years. He sings songs, accompanied by a guitar, in English and Turkish based on Rumi's poetry.

Irshad Khan is considered among the world's best Sitar players and the leading Surbahar (Bass Sitar) player of his generation and among the finest instrumentalists of the world. He has performed over 2000 concerts, in 30 nations and has over 20 international commercial albums.

Nomans Land Promotions promotes soulful music and arts events for a multi-cultural Canadian audience, to create awareness about world cultures and music. We support growing understanding and sensitivity towards diversity.

*Portion of proceeds from this event will be donated to the victims of the flooding in Pakistan.

When: Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

Where: Trinity-St. Paul Centre 

               427 Bloor Street West (Spadina & Bloor)

Time:    6:30 pm