Jahan-e-Khusrau Marks 25 Years: A Timeless Journey Of Sufi Music & Culture

Jahan-e-Khusrau, the World Sufi Music Festival, is set to return for its Silver Jubilee edition from February 28 to March 2, 2025, at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi. Conceptualised and curated by the renowned Muzaffar Ali, this edition of the festival promises a celebration of Sufi music, poetry, and spiritual transcendence, bringing together people from across the globe to honour the timeless wisdom of mystical traditions.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has extended his warm greetings to the organisers of Jahan-e-Khusrau, commending Muzaffar Ali for his unwavering commitment to preserving and promoting India’s syncretic cultural and spiritual heritage. In his message, PM Modi remarked, “India is a land blessed with spirituality, art, and culture. For centuries, music has been an intrinsic part of the socio-cultural fabric of our day-to-day life. Deeply associated with spirituality and culture, it can elevate the mind and act as a rejuvenating and healing force.”

“The participation of global artists, musicians, and dancers at the festival strongly resonates with the inclusive and all-encompassing worldview of our nation. May the melodious strains of soulful music build bridges of peace, harmony, and friendship between people, societies, and nations,” the Prime Minister remarked and shared his support for the celebration of 25 years of Jahan-e-Khusrau with, "May the silver jubilee edition of Jahan-e-Khusrau create abiding memories and be a huge success."

This year marks Jahan-e-Khusrau's 30 editions worldwide in these past 25 years, and over the years it has established its place as a cultural movement, going beyond boundaries to revive and reimagine the mystic traditions of Rumi, Amir Khusrau, Baba Bulleh Shah, Lalleshwari, and other Sufi saints.

The very first edition of Jahan-e-Khusrau in 2000 began with the blending of voices and instruments from Iran with the same from Kashmir and 25 years later, they continue the same tradition of merging places and people that are far apart but meet in music, poetry, and dance.

Across the span of 25 years, Jahan-e-Khusrau discovered and supported various new talents. Be it Sonam Kalra, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan, Archana Shah, Murad Ali Khan on Sarangi, Fateh Ali on Sitar, and many other artists. Young artists performed with Shubha Mudgal, Abida Parveen, Gurdas Mann, Ila Arun, Malini Awasthi, Kailash Kher, Sukhwinder Singh, Shafqat Ali Khan, Shujaat Hussain, Daler Mehndi, Satinder Sartaaj, Javed Ali and the likes.

The theme for the festival this year is "Unity in Diversity", and it upholds the vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – a world united through art, music, and spiritual heritage.

Along with the Sufi experience, Jahan-e-Khusrau 2025 will also host the TEH Bazaar, which will have a selection of rare and highly-skilled crafts, including those recognized with Geographical Indication (GI) status. There will also be ook launches, readings, and discussions with scholars and poets about thought, literature, and philosophy.

The people behind the festival

The two masterminds behind Jahan-e-Khusrau are - Muzaffar Ali, a filmmaker, painter, and cultural curator known for his deep-rooted passion for Sufism and Meera Ali, a distinguished architect, author, and cultural entrepreneur, who plays a pivotal role in shaping Jahan-e-Khusrau’s artistic and cultural vision.