Reaching God through music
Divine Journey
Delhi got the flavour of Sufi music on January 20 when India Habitat Centre organised an event to celebrate Sufism. 
The event named Ni Main Jana Mahi De Des, was filled with an evening of Sufi qalaams of Hazrat Amir Khusro, Baba Farid, Sultan Bahu, Baba Bulley Shah, Warris Shah, Shah Hussain, which were sung by Yakub, disciple of Ustad Lal Raza and Pandit Ram Lubhaya.
The event attracted hordes of people who were seen swaying on the soulful Sufi strains and some even sang along with the singer. During the event Yakub thanked the audience of Delhi for taking out time in this chilly winter and coming for the event.
This 22-year-old singer was accompanied by seven others who were on tabla, dholak, percussions, flute keyboard and vocals. Yakub revealed, “I am from Amritsar which is a place of music gurus. Some Sufi music also has its origin in Punjab and it is considered very spiritual and dharmik (religious).” Yakub started the evening with Amir Khusro’s qalaam to mark the occasion. It was an apt rendition to this Indian musician, scholar and poet, who was a Sufi mystic and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi.
Kamlesh Kohli, the organiser of the event said, “Yakub is a very promising young talent.
We always wanted to promote young talent and that is why we got him to play this soulful music to the audience of Delhi. Yakub’s father who is also his guru was a musician belonging to the Patiala Gharana.”
Sufism refers to the teaching of Muhammad which is said to be a path which leads a person close to God. A Sufi song is said to be a collection of poems which have been composed by Islam’s greatest saints from the very beginning of Sufism. These songs are considered to be a truthful demonstration of the most pure state of mind. The theme of the songs is generally based on one’s love and devotion for God. Sufi songs are usually sung in some Sufi gatherings, concerts and even mosques.
Some notable Sufi singers are Abida Parveen, Bibi Nooran, Barkat Sidhu, Iqbal Bahu, Miraj Khan, Ustad Juman, Allan Fakir, Swam Noora, Sultan Khan, Shahram Nazeri, Kailash Kher, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rabbi Shergill, Shubha Mudgal, Ghulam Ali, Wadali Brothers and Pathanay Khan.
