“With monsoon came flashing clouds, Once again to rain all over, Lightening flashed on Constantinople, and went towards west, It glittered over China, and took care of Samarkand, Then crossing Delhi and Deccan, it thundered in Girnar, Rambling to Rome, Kabul and Kandahar, It crossed Delhi, Decan and Girnar, Rushing to Jaisalmer and then to Bikanere and Bakar, It drenched Bhuj and then Drut and came to Umerkot and then in Walhar. O my lord, bestow prosperity on Sindh forever, O my sweet friend, shower blessings on all the world ” - Muslim Sufi Mystic Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai's Prayer for a better World
Mannat (A Prayer, A Wish) offers prayers for the health and wellness of the world.
Based on traditional poems by Sufi mystic Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and learned from two master musicians in Pakistan, the concept of this album is based on the ritual of supplication and saint worship that are practices braced by many religious cultures, yet still resisted by mainstream orthodoxies who deem them as superstitious and illegitimate. Hemani brings new musical interpretations to Sufi poems with the sounds of her vocals accompanied by Mehdi Rezania on Santur and Ojas Joshi on tabla.
"My music seeks to decolonize intercultural conversations by resisting cultural essentialism and offers prayers for the health and wellness of the world."
