New Delhi will host the first international Qawwali festival, titled “Taali Ho,” next February. The Krishna Prerna Trust, that also organises the highly successful World Flute Festival, the Holi Utsav and the World Percussion Festival, made the announcement in the city recently with an event that saw Qawwals -- practitioners of the Qawwali form of Sufi (devotional) music -- from India and Pakistan sharing the stage. The festival will be held from February 12 through 14 next year.At the curtain raiser held in the city, renowned Qawwals from Pakistan, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammad of Karachi, presented recitals along with their Indian counterparts, the well-known Nizami brothers (Ghulam Sabir Nizami and Ghulam Waris Nizami). Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammed, who perform together belong to the Qawwal Bachon Ka Gharana of Delhi, a music school founded in the 14th century that remains the best known gharana of Qawwali music today. The Nizami brothers, on the other hand, are based in Daryaganj in old Delhi and are a regular feature in all top Qawwali soirees the world over.According to the organisers, the festival will reinforce the notion that music cannot be restricted by any border. Arun Budhiraja, founder of the Krishna Prerna Trust said, “Qawwali is ‘a method of worship’ and ‘a means of spiritual advancement’; it is also ‘a feast for the soul’. To the performer it is mainly a musical genre ‘with its distinct character for worship’. To the observer, Qawwali is ‘music in context’ par excellence. Krishna Prerna Trust has always been working towards taking you to different unexplored or forgotten genres of music, traditions and culture”.Informing about the names that will be part of the festival next year, he added, “The wide spectrum of performers at Qawwali festival 2016 will include artists like Fareed Ayaz, Abu Mohammad Qawwal & Brothers (Pakistan), Nizami Brother (Delhi), Warsi Brothers (Hyderabad Deccan), Hamza Akram, Taimoor Akram (Pakistan), Tahir Hussain Faridi Qawwal (USA) and Ahmed Sham Sufi Qawwal (Afganistan).”Internationally acclaimed Pakistani Sufi Singer, Fareed Ayaz said, “We thank the Krishna Prerna Trust and Mr. Budhiraja for putting his constant efforts in reviving and preserving the various form of music. As an artiste and a Sufi music enthusiast, I believe that such platforms should be encouraged as they not only help in bridging the gap between the audience and artistes but also help us in learning and evolving our techniques constantly.”Sufiana legend, Ghulam Sabir Nizami said, “Now, Qawwali has become secular, [it belongs] to India, Pakistan, USA, Fiji, etc. It has transformed to reflect local sensibilities and concerns. In the US and the UK, Qawwali is re-imagined in a way that emphasizes the social justice aspect, focusing on the figure of Ali. It also crosses religious boundaries, so that Hindus, Jews, and Christians produce Qawwali music.”“With all these transformations, Qawwali has evolved a lot and with Taali Ho, we hope we will be able to present the fusion of old genre of music with a modern touch. We also wish such platforms should be promoted more so that they can showcase the best of music world to its appreciators”, he added.Apart from other Qawwalis that the artistes performed at the curtain raiser, the Qawwals from Pakistan sang their famous number ‘Kanhaiya,’ highlighting the fact the religions and borders could never be a deterrent to the ethos of soulful music. With this festival, Krishna Prerana Charitable Trust aims to train youngsters to join the mainstream of Qawwali singing. Training would be taken up by Fareed Ayaz Saheb and Nizami Brothers. It is in keeping with the Trust’s other activities, such as the program called ‘Saans’ under which youngsters are taught to play flute. This training is taken up the stalwarts of Hindustani classical music, including India’s best known flautist, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia. Follow@ARTINFOIndia
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