Sufism has always been a paradox: intensely personal yet universal, deeply spiritual yet grounded in the everyday. It's poetry and prayer, rebellion and surrender, music and silence, all woven together with devotion. And yet, as the world changes, so too does this centuries-old tradition. The Sufi Heritage Festival (SHF) 2025 is an invitation to immerse yourself in this legacy, to experience the spirit of Sufism in its truest form.
For centuries, Delhi has been a meeting ground of cultures, faiths, and ideas. The festival, in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, pays tribute to this syncretic heritage. It brings together music, poetry, storytelling, and crafts in a way that bridges the past and the present. From Amir Khusrau's evocative verses to the qawwalis of today, from age-old calligraphy techniques to modern expressions of faith and love, SHF 2025 preserves and reimagines tradition.
What is love? For Rumi, love was a path to the divine, an all-consuming fire that transforms the soul. His words carry a depth that we fail to grasp. Sufism teaches that love isn't passive — it's a force that breaks barriers, and reveals hidden truths. At SHF 2025, this love will be brought to life through performances that honour its many shades — romantic, divine, mystical, and revolutionary.
The heart of the festival is the Sama, the grand stage, where musicians and dancers perform under the open sky. Bebaak is a celebration of spoken word, mushairas, and experimental Sufi music. Kargaah is a hands-on exploration of calligraphy, embroidery, and the storytelling arts, guided by master artisans. Take home a souvenir from Dilli Ka Bazaar, a curated marketplace featuring handcrafted textiles, perfumes, and treasures. Lastly, Legacy Flavours will offer a culinary journey through the lost recipes of Old Delhi.
From the melodies of Rekha Bhardwaj and Harshdeep Kaur to the performances of A.R. Rahman’s KM Sufi Ensemble and Kabir Café, SHF 2025 brings together some of the most powerful voices in Sufi music. Poets and storytellers like Priya Malik and Laksh Maheshwari will weave magic through words, while Kathak legend Aditi Mangaldas will tell stories of devotion through dance.
SHF 2025 is a revival. We get so caught up in categorizing and containing (we're the generation that created 'situationships', after all), we forget that the world doesn't need to fit inside a neat box. Sufism reminds us that the divine is boundless, that love is limitless, and that true understanding comes from unity. Whether you're a seeker, an artist, a lover of history, or simply someone in search of something deeper, this festival is your gateway.
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