15th Qutub Festival on September 29-30, 2007 in New Delhi

New Delhi: The Qutub Minar will reverbrate with qawwalis and sufi music as the 15th Qutub Festival opens this weekend. The festival, to be held on September 29-30 will see artistes from India and Pakistan putting together a treat for Delhiites with different expressions of their music.

On the first day, Mohit Chauhan, the founder of the popular band, Silk Route, will give an opening performance followed by qawwalis by Ahsaan Bharti Ghungruwala. Chauhan’s voice has mesmerised audience in around 500 concerts before and his "Khoon Chala" number from the film "Rang De Basanti" made people sit back and take notice of his talent. Mohit Chauhan has also recently put the verses penned down by former president, APJ Abdul Kalam.

Chauhan’s contemporary music will be taken over by the qawwalis of Ahsaan Bharti, who has taken Hindustaani classical music to Pakistan and Dubai. Ahsaan wishes to enthrall the people in Delhi with qawwalis like "dard dijiye dawa kijiye, khol ke dil hasa kijiye, agar bulandi ko paana hai to jhuk kar sabse mila kijiye." Bharti is known for creating sounds of ghungroos and bullocks with his mouth.

The second day will be further pepped up by young singers — Hem Chandra and Arpita Mukherjee who had shot to fame in the recent reality talent shows on the television. The festivities will get a classical touch with mandolin recital by Sugato Bhaduri. His music taps sounds of Veena, Rabab, Sarod and Sitar reminding of the earliest forms of Hindustaani classical music.

Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan from Lahore will mark the day’s last performance with his mystic poetry. Shafqat Ali will present sufi ghazals from his vast repertoire. He will be performing in the city for the second time. "I really loved the response Delhiites gave me when I performed here last year. This festival acts as a great bridge to bring the people of the two countries together," said Shafqat. According to him, he has chosen sufi music for the occassion as it gives the message of humanity and not religion.

Delhiites can drown in the rhythm of various sounds of music in this festival organised by the Delhi Tourism in association with The Times of India and Sahitya Kala Parishad. A special bus service will be available from Jamia, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, North Campus and east Delhi to the Qutub Minar complex.

Khoon Chala number from the film Rang De Basanti, former president, APJ Abdul Kalam, Qawwalis by Ahsaan Bharti Ghungruwala, Mohit Chauhan, Popular band, Silk Route, former president, APJ Abdul Kalam, India and Pakistan Sufi Singers, qawwalis and sufi music, Classic Music For Delhiites, Mohit Chauhan, the founder of the popular band, Silk Route, Qawwalis by Ahsaan Bharti Ghungruwala