The repeated rendition of Marwari couplets spark a deep wave of mysticism among devotees who start whirling on their feet. It is a common sight at 80-feet-high Mehfil Khana in the 12th century dargah ...

The murder of the renowned qawwal, Amjad Sabri came as a rude jolt to the popular genre of vocal music, but to think that this will toll a death knell for qawwali would best be described as jumping to ...

I am standing outside the main shrine of the Ajmer Sharif dargah listening to a spirited group of qawwali singers perform. Their voices are entreating; their eyes sincere, rising to search for the ...

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Over pulsating drums, vigorous handclaps and harmoniums, the voices come in waves, each higher than the last.

Many might have been mesmerised by Javed Ali's rendition of Arziyan in the Bollywood film Delhi-6. However, this song cannot encapsulate the grandeur of the 13th Century Sufi tradition of Qawwali, a ...

Qawwali session in progress at the 12th century dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer. JAIPUR: Theto palak pugado deenanath sewa mein tumhre dasi kad ke khadi (Oh lord! Your servant is standing ...