The Qawwali Project - An Untold Story by Mustafa QuraishiSufi Kathak Foundation
Qaul is an utterance…
Qawwal is the one who sings a Qaul…
Qawwali is the music form what a Qawwal sings…
The Qawwali are songs of love, of devotion, of longing, of union, of separation of man with the Divine.
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.
Qawwal Practitioner: Ghulam Waris
Barabanki, home to Qawwali history
Haji Waris Ali Shah (1817-1905) was the Sufi saint from Dewa and was the founder of the Warsi order of Sufism. He was initiated in the traditional Chishtiyya Sufi order and formed a more liberal view and a large section of his followers remained in their own respective religions. Qawwali is a stronghold in this region, many famous Qawwals come from here.
Sing for my Pir, Sing for my People
Dewa is a town in the Barabanki district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is famous for the shrine of Haji Waris Ali Shah and the town is also known by the name of Dewa Sharif in respect for the shrine. Sufi poetry was written by one of his followers Bedam Shah Warsi and that continues to be sung till date at the Shrine.
The Qawwali Project - An Untold Story by Mustafa QuraishiSufi Kathak Foundation
Let the mela begin
Qawwali as a form of traditional music practised and performed largely by the artistes belonging to minority communities and when associated with the Shrines it is a larger sense of culture and belonging.
The Qawwals live in premises of the Shrine and sing frequently at the shrine and at times accompany while walking and singing when a special offering of chadar (embellished, decorated cloth) is made by a renowned person. Qawwali Practitioner: Sohail Warsi
Tradition is that people visiting the Shrine give money to the Qawwals singing for the Sufi Saint. The collection is random and the Qawwals, practitioners of Qawwali music, are now opting for other vocations. With this shift, unfortunately there will be no successors for further practice and continuity of Qawwali music.
The Qawwali Project - An Untold Story by Mustafa QuraishiSufi Kathak Foundation
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. Qawwal Practitioner: Shakeel Warsi
Concept and Text: Manjari Chaturvedi
Image rights: Mustafa Quraishi
Contributor: Sufi Kathak Foundation
About the photographer:
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 NGOs 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/
