change is the only constant
So how has the festival changed over the years? "It is becoming more streamlined and professional. But we could do with more budgets. We have only one-third of what we need. There should be a strong corporate cultural responsibility. Right now they only look at events with glamour," says Ali.

pyaar, ishq, mohabbat
The theme this year is journey of the heart. There are lots of variations in the shades of poetry, says Ali. The artistes have been working on the various kalams for the last two months. Asked how many kalams he is going to perform, singer Hansraj Hans says: "Sufi music is about mood. Ho sake ke ek hi na khatam ho. Agar concentration ho jaye to dekhte hain kya hota hain."

Sufi music is about love and light, says Hans. "It is like therapy, good for your body and mind. Where there is Sufism, there is roshni and mohabbat," adds Hans. The singer, who is coming up with a Sufi album soon, will be performing kalams by Hazrat Amir Khusrau, Bulle Shah and Shah Hussain among others.

Sufi kathak dancer Manjari Chaturvedi has been associated with Jahan e Khusrau for long. "The festival has shaped up pretty well. So the expectation levels of spectators have also gone up. A lot of interesting collaborations are allowed to happen in this festival," says Chaturvedi on the changing face of the song and dance saga.u00a0

For this year's edition, Chaturvedi will be collaborating with Wajahat Hussain Badayuni from Badayun in Uttar Pradesh. "Their qawals are soft and melodious and follow Awadhi traditions. The qawali is dominated by the Awadhi style of singing," says the dancer.

Other artistes who will be performing at the event this year include the likes of Ustaad Shujaat Hussain Khan, Masood Habibi from Iran, Shafqat Ali Khan and Saami brothers from Pakistan among others. There will also be a celebration of spring. We suggest you book your passes.

Cut-n-keep schedule
Friday, March 11
6.30 pm
Voice of the East: Azalea Ray (Canada)
Echos from Iran: Masood Habibi (Iran)
Sufiana from Punjab: Hansraj Hans

Saturday, March 12
6.30 pm
Celebrating Basant: Malini Awasthi
Legacy of Khusrau: Chand Nizami (India) & Saami Brothers (Pakistan)

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Sunday, March 13
6.30 pm
Raqs: Manjari Chaturvedi with Wajahat Hussain Badayuni
Raagas of Khusrau: Ustaad Shujaat Hussain Khan with Shafqat Ali Khan (Pakistan)
Rang: Wajahat Hussain Badayuni, Shafqat Ali Khan

At: Arab ki Sarai, Humayun's Tomb for passes, Call: 26658614/15