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“Sufi Basant Festival” The 500 Years Old Tradition Of Hyderabad

Sufi Basant Festival in Hyderabad

Who would have thought of Basant Panchami celebrations by Sufi Saint at a Dargah?
The Sufi Basant Festival in Hyderabad is a lively event that highlights the city’s diverse cultural legacy. Taking place at the dargah of Shah Muhammad Qasim, commonly referred to as Hazrat Shaik Ji Hali, this festival exemplifies the harmonious coexistence of Hindu and Muslim communities, often referred to as Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb.

The dargah’s premises are beautifully decorated in yellow during the festival, representing the onset of spring. This celebration is believed to have been started by the Qutub Shahis approximately 500 years ago and has since been carried on by the Asaf Jahis.

Sufi Basant Festival

Historical Context:
Basant Panchami is a Hindu festival that signifies the arrival of the Spring season. It is celebrated on Magh Shukl Panchami according to the Indian traditional calendar, usually occurring in January or February in the Gregorian calendar.

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Sufi Basant Celebration:
This festival was embraced by Indian Muslims, particularly the Sufis of the Chisti Order, in the 12th century, initially celebrated at the Dargah of the Muslim Sufi saint Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi. Since then, it has been a tradition within the Chishti order. The celebration of Basant Panchami at a Dargah exemplifies interfaith harmony and unique integration, with Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi serving as a prime example.

Abul Hasan Yamin ud-Din Khusrau (1253 – 1325), widely known as Amir Khusrau, was a Sufi, musician, and prolific classical poet associated with the royal courts of the Delhi Sultanate. He is recognized as one of the earliest recorded figures in India with a genuinely multicultural and pluralistic identity, making him an iconic figure in the cultural history of the Indian Subcontinent. As a Mystic and spiritual disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi, Amir Khusrau’s legacy continues to resonate.

Abul Hasan Yamin ud-Din Khusra & Amir Khusrau

Amir Khusrau harbored a profound desire to see his esteemed mentor, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, in a state of happiness. After the devastating loss of his beloved young nephew, Maulana Khwaja Syed Taqiuddin Nooh, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya withdrew from the world, leading his followers to seek ways to lift his spirits. One day, while walking near the Khanqah adjacent to Nizamuddin’s home, Amir Khusrau came across a group of village women dressed in bright yellow, joyfully carrying mustard flowers and singing with exuberance.

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Upon asking them about their celebration, they explained that they were welcoming the arrival of spring and heading to the temple to pay homage to their goddess through song and dance. This encounter inspired Amir Khusrau to think of ways to bring joy to his master. Motivated by their spirit, he dressed in yellow, wrapped a yellow chunari around his head, donned a dholak around his neck, held mustard flowers, and sang spring songs in honor of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.

Witnessing his devoted follower singing and dancing, Hazrat Nizamuddin burst into laughter, marking the end of his mourning. This event is commemorated annually by his followers. Over seven centuries have passed since then, and the gathering continues to celebrate Sufi Basant in remembrance of this moment. Since that time, Basant Panchami is observed at the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia in New Delhi, filled with the fragrance of mustard flowers and adorned with marigolds. Devotees dress in yellow to honor the occasion.

Sufi Basant Festival

This year, the Sufi Basant Festival will take place on February 2, 2025, at 6:30 PM at Dargah Hazrath Shaik Ji Hali Ra, Urdu Shareef, behind Pathergatti, Old City Hyderabad 500002.

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