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The Qawwali Project - An Untold Story

Mustafa Quraishi

Sufi Kathak Foundation

Sufi Kathak Foundation
New Delhi, India

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.

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  • Title: The Qawwali Project - An Untold Story
  • Creator: Mustafa Quraishi
  • Location Created: Dargah Haji Waris Ali Shah, Dewa Sharif
  • Original Language: Text: Manjari Chaturvedi
  • Type: photo
  • Contributor: Sufi Kathak Foundation
  • Rights: Mustafa Quraishi
  • Region: Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh
  • Qawwali practitioner: Qawwal Shakeel Warsi
  • Photographer's biography: Mustafa Quraishi is a New Delhi based photojournalist. In the past, Mustafa has worked with the Associated Press (2004-2013) and the Indian Express (1999-2004). Mustafa currently works independently with NGO’s and aid organisations and has been published in newspapers and magazines like The Newsweek, Time Magazine, Der Spiegel, The New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Geo, The Guardian, etc. See more at https://www.mustafaquraishi.com/
Sufi Kathak Foundation

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