Aga Khan Development Network: Jashn e Khusrau, A Festival of Poetry and Music as Part of Delhi Urban Renewal Programme

India, 4 March 2010 - The Jashn e Khusrau, which celebrates the Sufiana kalaam (mystical poetry of Islam) of Amir Khusrau (1253-1325), rendered in the khanqah of his beloved pir, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (1238-1325), and which has been kept alive for over 700 years by khanqahi qawwali at sama-e-mehfil (Sufi music communion) of the Chistiya silsilah, will run from 4-14 March 2010.

	The Jashn e Khusrau, organized by Aga Khan Trust for Culture in collaboration with the India International Centre, and with co-funding from the Ford Foundation, drew larger crowds. The Jashn e Khusrau brought together, for the first time, an exclusive assembly of khanqahi qawwal with different dargah affiliations, each performing a repertoire of Amir Khusrau’s kalaam in their distinctive style. - Photo: AKDN


	The festival forms a vital part of the Humayun’s Tomb-Sunder Nursery-Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti urban renewal programme being undertaken through a public private partnership involving the Archaeological Survey of India, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Central Public Works Department. To learn more about the Humayun’s Tomb - Sunder Nursery - Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti Urban Renewal Project, please see the Historic Cities India page. - Photo: AKDN


	Over 2000 people attended the Jashn e Khusrau concert on the 12th of March. - Photo: AKDN