ISLAMABAD, Sept 9 (TNS): National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) would pay tribute to Aziz Mian Qawwal by Imran Aziz Mian on September 15 at its Open Air Theatre.
“Qawwali” is a form of Sufi devotional music originated in South Asia. It is popular in the Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan and is part of a musical tradition that stretches back for more than 700 years.
Great Sufi saint, Amir Khusro is credited with fusing the Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Indian musical traditions in the late 13th century to create Qawwali as we know it today.
The formal name used for a session of Qawwali is “Mehfil-e- Sama” that has its origins in the word Sama originally used in Central Asia and Turkey to refer to musicals forms that were very similar to the present era’s Qawwali.
Originally performed at Sufi shrines or dargahs throughout South Asia, it gained mainstream popularity amongst the local and international audiences in late 20th century through the work of legendary Pakistani singers including Aziz Mian Qawwal, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sabri Brothers.” The event is open to public.
