Rekhta’s Sufinama to hold virtual Urs to commemorate 716th death anniversary of Sufi Saint Amir Khusrau

Sufinama, a Rekhta Foundation initiative that preserves and propagates 400 years of Sufi writing and philosophy, has arranged for an online celebration of the 716th Urs of Amir Khusrau on June11 at 8 PM to let his followers and devotees not remain devoid of the celebrations which are held each year in full glory at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah.

However, this year the Dargah committee (first time since Independence) has decided to close the shrine till June 30 to maintain social distancing norms amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sufinama also provides the largest online collection of Hazrat Amir Khusrau’s work and the translations of his Persian Ghazals.

For this virtual celebration, Sufinama has e-invited renowned qawwals to perform live and pay their respects to the great Sufi saint. Over 15 qawwals from places spanning across India, from Agra, Bhopal, Deva Sharif, Lucknow, Jaipur, etc. would be joining this heartfelt e-celebration. Aimed at spreading the message of love and cultural harmony, the E-Urs shall begin with the Qaul as done for years at the Dargah, and shall conclude with the Rang.

“The world owes much to Amir Khusrau - a Sufi philosopher, musician, poet and scholar, who also introduced the ghazal style of singing. The virtual Urs celebration is Rekhta’s and Sufinama’s tribute to the great Sufi Saint to commemorate his 716th death anniversary, which is celebrated annually in full glory at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya shrine, currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that the online celebration will let the followers and worshippers of Amir Khusrau keep alive the flame of this tradition while maintaining the social distance norms,” says Sanjiv Saraf, founder, Rekhta Foundation.

Some of the performers who will enlighten the evening are Raju Murli, the son of legendary Murli qawwal, Warsi brothers from Hyderabad, Danish Hussain Badayuni, Affan Warsi, Shahid Niyazi and Ghulam Waris Qawwal. The online event will also witness talks by Prof. Akhlaq Ahan who will enlighten the audience about Khusrau and Dastango Syed Sahil Agha who will subsequently narrate dastans of Hazrat Amir Khusrau.

This week marks the 716th Urs of Amir Khusrau, the renowned and loved Sufi poet. Each year, tirelessly, qawwals from around the world, come together to put music to his words and celebrate his Urs at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Shrine in the heart of Delhi.

A mystic, and a disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi, Amir Khusrau was an expert in Persian language and often wrote his poetry in it. The famous 14th century poet left us his legend to read and sing, while he settled in the arms of heaven at 72, having been unable to deal with the absence of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, whom he worshipped.