At the confluence of Nizamuddin Dargah and Gurudwara Damdama Sahib lies Sunder Nursery, which recently turned into a sanctuary of music, dance, poetry and roohaniyat. The two-day Sufi Heritage Festival, organised by Culture Plus founders Yasmin Kidwai and Himanshu Anand, celebrated the spirit of the city. Rooted in timeless Sufi ideals of openness, inclusivity, love and shared humanity, the festival offered a space for reflection, dialogue and connection.
Rooh Se Rab Tak: Daler Mehndi’s musical offering included songs like Ishq Ka Dariya, Allah Jane and Deewani
‘The fest is our interpretation of Sufism’From soul-stirring compositions by Sona Mohapatra and Daler Mehndi, spoken-word performances by Amandeep Khayal, Mujtaba Khan and Saumya Kulshreshta, to experimental soundscapes by The Aavahan Project and Maati Bani, the festival presented both traditional and contemporary interpretations of Sufi thought. “Sufism is a feeling, a belief system, something that allows you to expand and evolve. The festival is essentially our interpretation of what Sufism is,” said Yasmin. She added, “Yahan koi paraya nahi hai. Sab apne hain. Bahut khushi ho rahi hai sab ko dekh kar.”
Yasmin Kidwai and Himanshu Anand
Himanshu echoed the sentiment: “With this festival, we are honouring a legacy long embedded in the city – where Sufi and bhakti traditions converge – because at their core, their teachings speak the same language of love, oneness and shared humanity.”
On the Bebaak stage, Sonam Kalra rendered kalaams by Baba Bulleh Shah and Amir Khusrau to the beats of the daff by Sina Fakhroddin Ghaffari, sarangi and flute
When bhava meets thirak: Shinjini Kulkarni presented the story of Jodha Bai and Akbar through movement and expressions; The Aahvaan Project
A curated section invited visitors to try hands-on activities – creating architectural impressions through linocut printing, crafting Sufi dervishes from felt paper, and learning to play the daff
Laksh Maheshwari was the sutradhaar at the fest
The audience swayed, clapped and whirled to the music
