Delhi soaks in the Sufiyana rang

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.

‘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 Aahvaan 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.”

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.”

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