BWW Preview: JAHAN - E -KHUSRAU, The World Sufi Music Festival Returns to Delhi

Sufi music - A devotional form of music where the singer seeks to reach the divine through a meditative direct association expressed in the form of various musical genres such as ghazal, qawwali, reciting couplets etc. enjous a great fan following in India. In the recent past, many Sufi festivals have been drawing the newer generation in great numbers.

One of the foremost Sufi Festivals - Jahan -e- Khusrau returns to the capital city after three long years amongst much anticipation. The three day long festival will be held between March 24 -26, in New Delhi.

The festival that had catapulted itself into a much sought-after commemoration of Sufi music was founded by famous designer and historian Muzzaffar Ali and is patronized by the Rumi Foundation.

Sufi music that has been gaining popularity in mainstream music culture in India is also practiced as a form of both pop and folk music in the country. In the recent past Oscar winning Indian music director A.R. Rahman has used Sufi music in some of his Bollywood compositions that have received a cult following. The festival, brings together various artists practicing the art form and has seen participation from countries such as USA, Germany, Italy, Canada, Morocco and many others. The festival also has had its editions in London and Boston, besides Indian cities such as Patna, Jaipur, Srinagar etc.

The festival derives its name from Amir Khusrau - an iconic musician, poet and scholar who lived between 1253-1325 CE and invented Indian musical instruments such as sitar and tabla.

This year Jahan-e-Khusrau returns amongst much fan fare and is dedicated to Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakhar, the patron saint of Punjab. The festival will see participation from a lo of artist from Punjab including Hans Raj Hans, Sukhwinder Singh, Daler Mehdi, Sonam Kalra.

The festival that was founded in 2001 in association with the Delhi Government and Ministries of Tourism and Culture, Govt. of India, has found a unique fan following for itself around the world. Many visitors from abroad tie their holidays to India to coincide with the music festival.

Organizer Muzzaffar Ali feels that the festival is of particular significance in the world today. He says, "Sufi saints knew the true value of an egalitarian, inclusive world, lead by seamless love for the Lord. It's a message most relevant in today's world full of angst and strife."

The three-day festival is held in the ruins of Arab ki Sarai, next to Humayun's Tomb in Delhi.

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