Sufiana melodies light up evening at Sunder Nursery in Delhi

An evening suffused with a semblance of a spiritual aura at Sunder Nursery's open-air theatre drew the attention of many. The celebrated qawwals Sultan Niazi and brothers mesmerised the audience with soulful music that enthused the listeners with an ecstatic trance. This piece of the musical pattern had many swaying over the beat and verses. Started with mun kunto maula fa haaza ali un maula as a traditional protocol, this was followed by naat, a composition in praise of the Prophet.

This wonderful event of passionate ishq (love) was organised by Chishty Nizami Welfare Trust assisted by Agha Khan Trust and Delhi Police.

At the event was Rene Singh, a classical singer of Sufi genre. She exhibited the art with great eclat. She perfectly synchronised with the famous troupe of Niazi Brothers. The beauty of zihale misqin makan taghaful, a mystical composition in Persian penned by the legend poet known for writing in Persian, Awadhi, Brij and Khari Boli Hazrat Amir Khusrau, was well executed by Singh followed by Sultan in style.

"Tasawwuf (Sufism), Islamic mysticism transcends any format of religion, this connects a love bond among those coming from different walks of life and practising varied faiths. Today, they all irrespective of caste, creed and colour have congregated here to experience the feel of music that unifies all. It's bhakti, jo dooba so paar." Syed Bilal Ali Nizami, Chairman Chishty Nizami Welfare Trust spoke.

The three-hour-long event with its exclusivity focussed on how one religion corresponds to another with the same teachings, how one supreme power guides everyone irrespective of who's who with a specific and predetermined mechanism.

"It's really great to be a part of this sama (musical event), performing amidst such a beautiful gathering of music connoisseurs, this made me feel exhilarated. Here on my right is the Sufi shrine, the resting place of the Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and on the left is the Chilla Shariff where he spent most of his time in devotion.

Milad-ul-Nabi made the day all the more beautiful and remarkable, and Guru Pub day after tomorrow marks the great Sikh saint Guru Nanak Dev ji, we all here remembered him paying obeisances" Rene Singh, the noted thumri singer affirms.

Besides, some guests even put in a repeated request for their all-time favourite Chhaap tilak sab chheeni toh se naina milake composed by Hazrat Amir Khusrau. Dama dama mast qalandar by Baba Bulle Shah was yet another hit among the masses. The curtain came down with gori soye sej pe mukh pe daare kes, chal khusro ghar aapne, saanjh bha'i chahun des followed by Aaj rang hai ree maa, mere mehboob ke ghar rang hai ree.

The event marked by hundreds of music lovers will stay etched on many minds and memories.