Jahan-e-Khusrau: Celebrating Sufi Music and Poetry

Jahan-e-Khusrau, India’s internationally celebrated World Sufi Music Festival, will return to the historic Purana Qila, New Delhi, from March 27 to 29. Conceptualised and curated by filmmaker, painter, and cultural visionary Muzaffar Ali and presented by the Rumi Foundation, the festival celebrates music, poetry, craft, and culinary traditions rooted in Sufi heritage.

The festival draws inspiration from the works of Sufi saints including Amir Khusrau, Rumi, Baba Bulleh Shah, and Lalleshwari, reviving mystical traditions that continue to influence music, poetry, and spiritual thought across South Asia. Over more than two decades, Jahan-e-Khusrau has become a platform where established performers and emerging artists meet, creating a shared space of devotion and dialogue.

The 2026 edition, themed “The Steed of Longing | Safar-e-Ishq Continues”, will feature headline performances by Satinder Sartaj, Sukhwinder Singh, Hansraj Hans, and Lakhwinder Wadali. Other artists include Jasu Khan Manganiyar, Shivani Verma, Sahil Agha, and Sanjukta Sinha, with further announcements expected later this week.

Alongside concerts, the festival will host TEH Bazaar (The Exploration of the Handmade), showcasing heritage crafts and artisanal traditions. Literary readings, cultural dialogues, and film screenings exploring mystic thought will be part of the programme, alongside a specially curated Sufi culinary offering inspired by traditional kitchens and shared cultural legacies.

Reflecting on the festival’s journey, Muzaffar Ali said, “Jahan-e-Khusrau was born from the whispers of saints and the melodies of mystics. For over two decades, it has been a sanctuary where music, poetry, and devotion dissolve boundaries and remind us that love is the ultimate path to unity.”

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Co-curator Meera Ali added, “With every edition, we aim to create a space where art heals, traditions converse, and audiences reconnect with the spiritual depth of our shared heritage.”

When: March 27–29

Where: Purana Qila, New Delhi