The Qawwali Project - An Untold Story

An Urs, or death anniversary, locally known as Dewa mela is observed in October–November on dates according to Islamic calendar. It is attended by nearly a million people both Muslims and Hindus. It is said that this fair was started by Haji Waris Ali Shah in memory of his father, Qurban Ali Shah. The Qawwals sing in succession all night in mehfils (gatherings) where spiritual poetry of Sufi saints is sung during the Urs.

The Qawwali Project, is an initiative conceptualized by Manjari Chaturvedi where the untold story of Qawwali unfolds through the eyes of photographers. The practitioners are photo-documented with their performance art, their lives and their association with the Sufi shrines where they perform. Qawwali is the performance art and Qawwal is the practitioner. This is an attempt by the Sufi Kathak Foundation to document the traditions as they exist at the shrines itself.