US, Pak, Afghan singers to come to Delhi for First International Qawwali festival in 2016

New Delhi: Delhi is gearing up for a feast of qawwali with singers from across the world set to arrive for an event that claims to be the first International Qawwali Festival.

Qawwali singers from India and Pakistan presented soulful renditions of sufi music at India Islamic Centre recently providing a glimpse of the festival titled Taali Ho, which aims to reinforce the notion that music is not restricted to any borders.

The festival is scheduled to be held from 12-14 February 2016.

“The world of music is completely different. For us, being a Hindu or a Muslim, Jain or Christian is immaterial. When we get together, we meet like we are brothers, like we are family,” says Ghulam Sabir Nizami of Delhi’s Nizami Brothers.

Hailing from the Sikandrabad Gharana, the Nizami Brothers are among the most popular Qawwali singers in Astana Gayki as well as the modern qawwali tradition.

While throwing light on qawwali as a genre of music with its distinct character for worship and spiritual advancement, the event is also set to showcase the evolution that qawwali has undergone with artistes performing a fusion of old genre of music with a modern touch.

For Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawwal and Brothers, India is a land where love surpasses hatred by multiple times.

“Despite what (‘growing intolerance’) has been happening in India for the last 10-15 days, Fareed Ayaz is present in Delhi. I know that in Delhi and in India there are many who love me. When I have hundreds who love me, why should I be scared of a few violent elements. In fact I will try to teach those few the language of love too.

“Music is the language of love and it is not even remotely associated with any form of hatred or violence and it is through qawwali that we are trying to spread love and peace,” says Ayaz.

Honed in the prestigious Delhi School of Music, these artistes from across the border have been weaving magic with their words and music for over 30 years now. Besides qawwali sufi music they also excel in classical genres like tarana, thumri and khayal.

Referring to the depiction of qawwali in cinema, Ghulam Sabir Nizami says, “Qawwali in its true essence is a love affair with the divine. People have been misled about qawwali in films and the form that is potrayed is shameful.

“Real qawwali is the one that was heard by the sufi saints. Apart from that everything else is merely enjoyment. However, some songs like AR Rehman’s Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Jodhaa Akbar) and Kun Faya Kun (Rockstar) do depict the true essence of qawwali.”

Among other qawwali singers who will be a part of the event are the Warsi Brothers from Hyderabad, Hamza Akram and Taimoor Akram from Pakistan, Tahir Hussain Faridi Qawwal from US and Ahmed Sham Sufi Qawwal from Afghanistan.

PTI