A real cult is now devoted to Abida, proof indeed of the way this immensely popular artiste gives herself over entirely to her music. She is ready to go on giving the best of her gifts to serve the kalam (The Word) of the Sufi saints. Sometimes she lingers on a low note and sometimes she hits the zeniths of octaves to implement her tune. Whatever she is singing, one can be certain that she seems to be in a state of ecstatic communion with her audience, inspired by an energy coming straight from within.

Parveen sings about love for the only one, and the wish to be united with this divine entity. She interprets the Sufi poetry with a clear diction and a gentle, often melancholy presence, which makes the message so absorbable.

She gets her material from the old texts of the Sufi poets and she, herself composes the music, which is as richly ornate as her raspy, soulful and forceful voice. She hopes the ancient, soulful strains of Sufi music can some day unite the sparring neighbours India and Pakistan. According to her, "With the two countries sharing so much common cultural and traditional legacy, peace will prevail one day. Sufi music will have a role in unifying them.

"The basic tenet of Sufism is the same: love for God and your fellow brethren. In different areas, different saints propagated this particular message, using the idioms and traditional music of the local area so the masses could relate to it.

"Once you understand the message, you will realise that basically we are all the same. Music transcends the barriers of language, culture and creed. Even if an Englishman who doesn't understand the words listens to Sufi music, it will transport him to ecstasy," says Parveen. Indeed Parveen's music has a power to communicate across racial and denominational divides.

Abida Parveen was born in 1954 in Larkana, Sindh in Pakistan. Her father, Ustad Ghulam Haider, ran a music school. Though women in conservative Muslim society are rarely encouraged to pursue musical or other entertainment based careers, her father recognised his daughter's extraordinary talent and encouraged her to sing. She received her music lessons initially from her father and later from Ustad Salamat Ali Khan of Sham Chorasia Gharana.

Parveen's father used to accompany her to the annual religious festivals, where she heard the trance-seeking music practised by the Sufis to get in touch with and praise the divine.

Her career solidified after her marriage to the late Ghulam Hussain Sheikh, a senior producer in Radio Pakistan who became her mentor. While she does not regularly perform purely classical music, her prodigious command of the ornamental idiom and developmental genius of this genre is apparent throughout her music.

She has performed in a wide range of venues both sacred and secular, from the shrines of saints in her native Sindh to the world's greatest concert halls.

Among her critically acclaimed albums, Raqs-e-Bismil, Paigham-e-Mohabbat, Jahan-e Khusrau, Songs of the Mystic, Khazana, Mahi Yaar Di Gharoli Bhardi, Meda Lal Qalanadr, Are Logo Tumhara Kya are treats for a Qawwali and Ghazal connoisseur.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent