Delhi's Sufi Heritage Fest Concludes

The festival, conceptualized by Yasmin Kidwai and Himanshu Anand of Culture Plus, unfolded over two days on February 28 and March 1, 2026. It was designed as an immersive experience with two distinct stages: the "Samaa" for traditional performances and "Bebaak" for contemporary interpretations. The event's location, Sundar Nursery, is a 90-acre heritage park dating back to the 16th century, when it was known as Azim Bagh. Situated next to the Humayun's Tomb UNESCO World Heritage Site, the nursery itself contains six protected monuments and was revived through a restoration project that began in 2007. Delhi has a Sufi history stretching back over 700 years and is sometimes referred to as "Baees Khwaja ki Chaukhat," or the threshold of 22 saints. Saints of the Chishti order, such as Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (1238-1325), established hospices (khanqahs) that became inclusive civic spaces, offering food and shelter to all. The city's rich Sufi culture gave birth to unique art forms, most notably Qawwali, a style of devotional music. The famed poet and musician Amir Khusrau, a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, is considered a foundational figure in the development of Indo-Muslim devotional music traditions. This year's festival expanded beyond performances to include the Sufi Bazaar, a curated market featuring 15 brands showcasing heirloom crafts and textiles. Interactive workshops and masterclasses in a zone called "Kargaah" allowed attendees to engage directly with traditional arts and knowledge systems. The lineup featured a blend of legacy and contemporary artists, including headline performances by singer Sona Mohapatra and the legendary Daler Mehndi. They were joined by performers like Sonam Kalra, the Murad Ali Ensemble, and spoken word groups who offered modern reinterpretations of Sufi thought.