At Mehrauli Park, qawwali meets heritage on a summer evening

The Qutub Minar silhouetted against the evening sky, sound of peacocks and flowing fountains set the stage as the Niazi Nizami Brothers’ qawwali echoed through Mehrauli Archaeological Park earlier this month. Hosted by the Delhi Developmental Authority and Archaeological Survey of India to mark the International Day for Monuments and Sites (celebrated on April 18), the evening also featured an exhibition tracing the park’s restoration.‘Dilli ne artists ko bahut pyaar diya hai’Entering to the beats of their band, Niazi Nizami Brothers started with a sher for Delhiites. One of the brothers, Imran Nizami said, “Hum log aapke apne Niazi Nizami Brothers, from Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, aap sab ki seva mein hain. Ek shayari ke zariye shuruaat karna chahunga kyunki yeh jo hamari Dilli hai, Dil walon ki Dilli, yahan par artists ko bahut nawaza jata hai, bahut pyaar aur izzat di jati hai. Khushiyon ka leke aaye hain payam, Niazi Nizami Brothers ka aap sabhi ko salaam.”With the sun slowly setting, the evening started with a heritage walk, with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu in attendance. Engaging audiences, the Nizami brothers took song requests from the guests. As dusk fell, the musical soiree turned into a dance floor as the qawwals said, “Jinko bhi yeh shaam yaadgaar banani hai woh dance kar lein.” Even as the evening drew to a close, notes from their qawwali lingered in the air for a while.