Sufi Heritage Festival: A Living Tribute To Music, Poetry And Cultural Continuity

A celebration of spiritual sound and artistic expression, the Sufi Heritage Festival returns for its second edition at Sunder Nursery, transforming the historic space into a vibrant cultural platform that honours India’s rich Sufi traditions. Set against the backdrop of centuries-old monuments and verdant gardens, the festival unfolds as an immersive cultural experience that blends music, poetry, storytelling, craft, dance and cuisine, all rooted in the timeless ethos of Sufism.

Organised by the Sufi Heritage Project in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the two-day event, running February 28 to March 1, 2026, reflects Sufism’s core principles of openness, inclusivity, love and shared humanity, while positioning heritage as a living, evolving conversation rather than a static artifact.

For decades, Delhi and the surrounding region have served as fertile ground for Sufi traditions, deeply influenced by figures such as Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, Amir Khusrau, Mirza Ghalib and Dara Shikoh, whose legacy continues to inform the festival’s narrative arc.

At the heart of the festival are its staged experiences: Samaa, the main stage, showcases powerful performances steeped in classical and devotional music, while Bebaak (meaning “fearless”) highlights contemporary voices, spoken word, poetry and experimental sound rooted in Sufi thought. A third zone, Kargaah, offers interactive workshops and hands-on sessions on traditional crafts and artistic practices, from calligraphy and pottery to textiles, inviting audiences to engage with living cultural techniques.

Beyond performances, the festival’s curated Sufi Bazaar brings together artisans and makers from across India, showcasing heirloom crafts, handwoven textiles, perfumes and other sustainable, community-rooted goods. A culinary segment called Legacy Flavours celebrates regional recipes and heritage foodways, enhancing the festival’s immersive quality by offering attendees sensory touchpoints beyond sound alone.

This edition has drawn a diverse lineup of performers and thinkers, including spiritual singer Sona Mohapatra, folk icon Daler Mehndi, poet collectives such as Marham Poetry, and groups like The Aahvaan Project who bridge traditional and contemporary Sufi expression.

Festival founders emphasise the event’s intent to connect past and present, showing that Sufism’s themes of unity, reflection and shared humanity continue to resonate across generations. By foregrounding both legacy and modern interpretations of tradition, the Sufi Heritage Festival positions itself not just as a weekend gathering, but as an evolving cultural platform that encourages dialogue, artistic exploration and collective presence.

In an era where cultural festivals increasingly draw global audiences, the Sufi Heritage Festival stands out for its commitment to preservation through participation — inviting music lovers, seekers, artisans and storytellers alike to experience the soul of Sufi heritage in dynamic, inclusive and deeply personal ways.