For the love of Khusrau
Get your dose of Sufism at the 9th Jahan-e-Khusrau festival that kicks off in the Capital today.
Delhi is all set to get a Sufiana high again. Jahan-e-Khusrau, an annual Sufi music festival that celebrates the life and work of Persian poet, Amir Khusrau, starts today in the Capital at Arab ki Sarai, Humayun Tomb, Nizamudin. The three-day long festival will have artists from all over the world, experimenting and interpreting Sufism in their own contexts. Poetry always remains the main focus of this festival.
“The festival aims to bring in the concept of oneness,” says Muzzafar Ali, creator and director of Jahan-e-Khusrau. Further explaining the concept, Ali says, “Sufism is not related to one particular region. It cuts across regions and beliefs and everyone has the same form of surrender when it comes to Sufism.” The festival will open with the performance of Canada-based artist Azalea Ray. She will be singing on the lyrics of Bedam Shah Warsi and Amir Khusrau. This will be followed by a performance by Hans Raj Hans. The singer will be performing various qalams. “I am performing in Jahan-e-Khusrau for the first time and I am very excited to be part of this great festival,” says Hans.
Another major attraction at the festival is a Sufi Kathak dance by Manjari Chaturvedi. She will be performing with qawwals from Wajahat Hussain Badayuni. “I have been practising Sufi Kathak for the past 14 years and it’s for the first time that I am performing with Badayuni Qawwals. My performance is a visual representation of Amir Khusrau’s peotry,” says Chaturvedi. With all this and many more, get ready to be soaked in Sufiana andaaz.
Carrying sufism to London
It is for the first time that Jahan-e-Khusrau will be held in London. Scheduled from April 15-17, the festival will see Sufi performances of artists from Kashmir, Rajasthan and Delhi. It will be held at two different venues — Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall. The festival will also feature two films by Muzaffar Ali — Umrao Jaan and Breathe Into Me.
ON A SUFI TOUR
What: Jahan-e-Khusrau, a sufi music festival
Where: Arab Ki Sarai, Humayun Tomb, Nizamudin East
When: March 11-13
Tel: 26658614
Entry free
Nearest Metro Station: Jangpura on the Violet line
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