Here is an 8' trailer to the 122 minute epic documentary of the lives of Ashiq, the Uyghur bards who live in the southern borders of the Taklamakan Desert of far west China.
Here is an 8' trailer to the 122 minute epic documentary of the lives of Ashiq, the Uyghur bards who live in the southern borders of the Taklamakan Desert of far west China. Unlike the traditional life of Sufi practitioners in Islamic society, the Ashiq hold diverse occupations and seek seclusion periodically to cultivate religious powers at Mazar (the graves of Uyghur spiritual leaders). Some Asiq are ironworkers, others are beggars, merchants, grave diggers, barbers, woman Ashiq, Sheikh (the Islamic clergy) and so on. However the manner and subjects they sing have remained little changed over the generations. They convey their earnest feelings to Allah and are doing penance for their sins through their singing and pilgrimage. This documentary covers all aspects of Ashiq and moreover, touches on the challenges of engaging the next generation of Ashiq.