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This fragment is part of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" carpet.
Through the fragment we trace the journey of the fragment owners and their collabs as they explore, experiment and creatively advance socially relevant themes. Here is the fragment as we are sending it on this three and a half-year journey.
Follow this story to observe the transformations the fragment undergoes over the course of these years...
The journey begins...
...with Farwah Rizvi
Fragment #35 has arrived in my hometown Karachi, shortly before I arrived there from Berlin.
We took #35 to the top (27th floor) of my relative's building to give it a panoramic view of the city before we began our journey to Sindh.
Sindh here we come!
My story begins in 2016, when I first had the chance to travel to Sindh, spending time with the locals there and becoming a part of their celebrations. What I witnessed first-hand changed my perception forever and when I received fragment #35 I knew immediately what I wanted to do. With the dragon carpet accompanying me, I decided to visit the place that continues to inspire me.
Sindh - Where the Sufism of Islam meets Mysticism of Hinduism
Sindh is one of the most underdeveloped yet the most religiously diverse and tolerant province in Pakistan. To understand the significance of this land, we have to go back a little. Sindh is the birthplace of one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations with River Indus as its lifeblood. The Indus Valley Civilization flourished around 2500 BCE in this area more than 4500 years ago! Historically, the Indus served as a major trade route, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and ideas from various other civilizations of the time. This constant flow contributed to the rich cultural and religious diversity of the region. But its influence didn’t stop in the past. People of this land continue to uphold centuries-old traditions, culture and values to this day. I haven’t visited a place with people more generous or hospitable.
With the arrival of Islam, the Sufism of Sindh developed and flourished as well. Sufi practice here absorbed, transformed and gave birth to unique spiritual and cultural practices that honored and blended with local customs. Thousands of Sufi saints and dervishes preached about spirituality, love, and peace over centuries and to this day, this region is a symbol of religious pluralism and ethnic diversity. Arguably the most prominent of these Sufi saints is ‘Lal Shahbaz Qalander’.
The shrine of ‘Lal Shahbaz Qalander’ in the Sehwan city of Sindh, Pakistan attracts millions of pilgrims every year. Among the pilgrims one will find women, men, transgenders and children leaving behind their Shia Muslim, Sunni Muslim or Hindu identity and communally partaking in the personal spiritual quest of peace.
Lal – for the red colored clothes he wore,
Shahbaz – the nickname he was given by his mentor and
Qalander – a title for sufi saints
In the oft politically charged and religiously motivated atmosphere of the country, the shrine of ‘Lal Shahbaz Qalander’, stands as a spatially and temporally limited experience of freedom. Dhamaal, the whirling of Pakistani Sufis and faqeers, is a colorful display and manifestation of these beliefs. In the courtyard of the shrine of ‘Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’, women dance alongside men, Hindus dance alongside Muslims.
The Dance goes on
In 2017, there was a suicide bomb blast claimed by IS at this Sufi shrine. The incident was a stark reminder of everything wrong in the world. The attack took place on the night hundreds of pilgrims had gathered to partake in the evening dhamaal ritual. Many of its victims were women and children.
In a show of solidarity and defiance, just a few hours after the attack, custodians of the shrine allowed the dhamaal to continue. The ritual was performed to honor the victims and to spread their Sufi saints message of love and tolerance. The dhamaal ritual continues at the shrine of ‘Lal Shahbaz Qalander’ every Thursday evening to this day.
Dama Dam Mast Qalander
This was the power and intrigue of the place that brought me back here in 2024, clutching onto my fragment from the dragon carpet that refused to let terror define its fate. I sat down on the cool marble floor and was soon serenaded by a woman singing the most popular Sufi hymn ‘Dama Dam Mast Qalander’ dedicated to Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
Front and Back
About the Project
The Museum for Islamic Art's project, #CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the future, celebrates the transformative power of cultural exchange and the shared threads that unite us all. All the things we love, have loved and will ever love come from cultural exchange, migration and diversity, or as we like to call it #CulturalxCollabs.
100 carpet fragments, cut from a replica of the iconic dragon carpet, will travel the world (delivered by DHL). The fragments will ignite #CulturalxCollabs with co-creators, inspiring human ingenuity, fostering community and ultimately demonstrating how cultural exchange enriches all our lives.
Follow #CulturalxCollabs on Instagram as the project unfolds...
...or learn more here
Weaving the Future
Join us on a journey with 100 carpet fragments as they travel around the world for three and a half years, finding temporary homes while bridging cultural boundaries, fostering worldwide community united by the power of human stories.
Fragment Journeys
100 carpet fragments part of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" project. Follow their journeys through the ever changing owners' over three and a half years.
Where is the Dragon?
The star of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" project is a so-called Caucasian dragon carpet from the 17th century. A dragon carpet - all well and good - but: where is the dragon?
