Sufi Heritage Festival to begin on March 8

Delhi is set to host India’s largest celebration of Sufi heritage with the Sufi Heritage Festival, scheduled for March 8-9, at Sunder Nursery. Organised by the Sufi Heritage Project in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the two-day festival will bring together music, poetry, storytelling, crafts, and cuisine, reflecting the city’s 700-year-old Sufi traditions.

The festival will take place at Sunder Nursery, a 90-acre heritage park recognised as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Greatest Places in the World. Nestled among 16th-century monuments and lush gardens, the venue has long been associated with Delhi’s cultural and spiritual history.

The event will pay homage to Delhi’s Sufi legacy, drawing inspiration from figures such as Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, Amir Khusrau, Mirza Ghalib, and Dara Shikoh. It will feature performances by renowned artists including Rekha Bhardwaj, Nizami Brothers, Dhruv Sangari, Kabir Café, and Aditi Mangaldas, along with Whirling Dervishes and Baul musicians.

Festival founder Yasmin Kidwai, who has been involved in conservation efforts in the Nizamuddin area, described the festival as an effort to preserve and celebrate Delhi’s living Sufi traditions.

“Delhi’s Sufi heritage is a reminder of how deeply the local is intertwined with the global. This festival is an extension of that idea—bringing together diverse voices, traditions, and communities that keep this spiritual and cultural legacy alive,” she said.

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The festival will feature five curated spaces, each highlighting different aspects of Sufi traditions. The Sama stage will serve as the heart of the festival, dedicated to Sufi music and dance performances. Bebaak will offer a platform for poetry, storytelling, and spoken word performances, featuring the works of Rumi, Iqbal, and Faiz alongside contemporary voices. Kargaah will host interactive sessions on calligraphy, Sanjhi art, aari embroidery, pottery, and traditional crafts led by artisans. A dedicated culinary experience will showcase traditional Sufi cuisine, featuring lost recipes from Old Delhi and Mughal kitchens. Dilli Ka Bazaar will present a curated marketplace featuring handcrafted textiles, perfumes, and artisanal wares.

The festival is part of a broader effort to revive and reinterpret Sufi heritage in contemporary times. Ratish Nanda, CEO of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture India, emphasised the importance of preserving not just built heritage but also the intangible cultural traditions of the region.

“For over two decades, our conservation work in the Humayun’s Tomb–Nizamuddin area has been accompanied by efforts to revive the musical, culinary, and craft traditions associated with this sacred landscape. This festival is an extension of that commitment,” Nanda said.

The event has also partnered with Aadyam Handwoven, which supports indigenous crafts and traditional artistry. Manish Saksena, Business Lead at Aadyam Handwoven, highlighted the festival’s role in fostering dialogue between heritage and contemporary art forms.

When: March 8-9;2 PM – 10 PM

Where: Sunder Nursery, New Delhi