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The whirling dance- a part of history that has reshaped what honor to God means. Something that started in the 13th century has now spread all over the world. Originated in the city of Konya in Turkey, it was an entirely new display of affection and was known as Sama Ritual. Over the years, the ritual has transformed into what is now known as ‘Sema’. This Turkish religious ceremony is the modern version of what was discovered by the great Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Rumi to honor Allah. Sema means night of union and is held every year on the anniversary of Jalal-ud-Din Rumi.

This act has a deeper meaning which pursues spiritual perfection and worship of God. The people who perform this act are known as dervishes, they are taught this ritual for 1001 days along with other basic ethics and norms. Only the people who belong to the long chain of Mevlevi order of whirling dancers can perform this dance. Every step of the ritual has its own significance, the whirl starts with the left foot while the right foot gives the propulsion to the 360-degree rotation. As the whirling continues, you’ll notice that the dervishes have their arms open. The right hand towards the sky symbolizes the blessings of God from heavens and the left hand towards the earth symbolizes the giving nature of God to the people. Before the whirling starts, the dervishes have their arms crossed in front of them. This gesture signifies the unity of God. Their white attire represents the ego’s shroud while the hat represents the tombstone of the body. While this may seem meaningless to many, it is a spiritual journey where a man lets go of his personal desires and becomes one with God, a cleansing path to achieve spiritual perfection. 

A similar form of ritual is performed in Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in the Sindh province of Pakistan known as dhamal. The ritual is similar to Sema as it is to honor God but it is different in many small ways. There are drums and horns played at the shrine which create a melody, whereas the dance can be performed by anyone. When the melody starts men and women rise and start dancing. There is no specific movement or rhythm to their dance. All the men, women, and even children just throw their hands in the air, close their eyes, and move their head in an unorthodox way. The unorthodox dancing continues all night till the sun rises. The people are so engrossed in the act that they lose all sense of time. 

The dance of the Sufi’s, although with different names and a little variation, mean the same thing around the world- they bring performers closer to God and spiritual perfection.

The largest country in the subcontinent, India is home to some of the most colorful cultural festivals the world has the pleasure of witnessing. Grounded in its rich history, the festivals date back to the origin of the country and most have a deep religious significance as well. Read on to find out the best cultural festivals you must experience when in India:

1. Holi 

An appreciation of colors, Holi is a beautiful festival that acknowledges the arrival of spring and the celebration of all things good and pure. It represents the core of the Indian culture, which is vibrancy and authenticity. Conducting the festival is very simple. All you need is water and powdered colors and lots and lots of enthusiasm. When the month of March arrives, families start planning huge gatherings and start preparing the bonfire that honors the killing of Holika – a demoness in Hindu scriptures, who was burnt to death with the help of god Vishnu. The next morning the joy is celebrated using colors and water.

2. Diwali

A festival of lights, Diwali is one of the most popular celebrations known around the world. It goes beyond regions and boundaries and brings together communities to remember the homecoming of the famous Lord Ram. Taking place between the month of October and November, houses are decorated with full zest and zeal. Using lights, colorful strings, diyas, and rangolis, every building in the country is a wondrous sight. On the last day of the 5-day festival, people gather around to worship the Goddess Laxmi (bringer of wealth) and end the festival on a positive note.

3. Maha Shivratri

The majority population in India follows the Hindu religion, which is why the Maha Shivratri has become a famous cultural festival in the region. This celebration of love, of existence, and of sacrifice is observed on the 14th and 15th day of the month of February. It is believed that the famous Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati on this day and began a beautiful journey together. During the day, devotees fast and spend most hours in meditation. You can hear prayer chants coming from temples and other places of worship. At night, celebrations range from singing and dancing to eating and storytelling.

4. Durga Puja

Stretching over nine days, Durga Puja is a celebration of the return of Goddess Kali to her home. People come out on the streets and raise chants in the Hindi scripture. The roads are laden with food and drinks. At night, relatives gather around in one house and sing and dance. People wear bright colored clothes and jewelry to express their happiness. Old stories are retold to children so that they understand their religious and cultural history.

When Rumi’s name echoes, the sound divulges into the phonics of mysticism. Rumi is known for mysticism and mysticism is known for Rumi. Let’s dial back time to the thirteenth century. Jalal Al-Din Muhammad Rumi was born into the home of an influential and respected Islamic scholar of Afghanistan. Fate turned the leaves of Rumi’s life story towards displacement when Mongols invaded Afghanistan, and Rumi along with his family had to stumble across the border into Iran then onto Syria and Saudi Arabia, only to eventually land in Konya, a cosmopolitan city in Turkey. Legends have it, during the family’s travel to Iran, they came across a Persian mystical poet, Farid Al-Din Attar who blessed Rumi and therefore, opened the gateway to mysticism for him. 

Rumi always had an Islamic influence due to his father’s rank as a scholar but, Rumi’s life evolved into a mystic journey when the time conspired to have made Rumi cross paths with Shams-e-Tabriz. Shams-e-Tabriz was a darvesh wandering in the streets of Konya. Though he is known as the Son of Religion, Shams-e-Tabriz cannot be affiliated with any of the religious mystic fraternities. The fateful union between Shams-e-Tabriz and Jalal Al-Din Rumi was the turning point in Rumi’s life where he got to indulge in the mysteries of the supreme deity. The two mystics spent around a couple of months closely-knitted so much so that Rumi diverted his attention away from his disciples and family, solely to focus on Shams-e-Tabriz’s teachings. This closeness stirred a lot of scandals in the community eventually forcing Shams-e-Tabriz to move back to Syria leaving Rumi devastated. This devastation and atrocity unraveled Rumi’s poetic abilities to the world. A number of his poems stemmed from his longing and mourning for his mystical master, Shams-e-Tabriz. The Divan-e-Shams is a collection of those pieces that Rumi jotted down lost in spiritual and mystic agony. 

As time progressed after Shams-e-Tabriz’s demise, Rumi’s spiritual indulgence further escalated. Events kept transpiring in Rumi’s mystical quest and his spiritual connection with the divine creation became stronger. Oftentimes while reciting his verses, Rumi would also jumble it up with a whirling dance. This whirling dance is widely known throughout the world now as Samaa. The costumes worn by the Sufi dancers in this day and age also symbolize and signify Rumi’s origin from the Middle East. The elongated robe is essentially derived from the Afghan culture, which relates back to Rumi’s roots being affiliated with Afghanistan. 

Rumi went on to live a few years after having completed the Masnawi. He was then buried in Konya, which has now become a chronicle shrine for mystic pilgrims throughout the world. Even centuries after his demise, Rumi is still known as the heart and soul of mysticism, and his poetry is widely enjoyed across the world. His original poetry was in Arabic and Persian as well as some Turkish but, the translation of these inscriptions are available in all languages known to mystics of the world. 

“The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you already are.” – Maulana Rumi

Punjab is the second largest province of Pakistan. The rich culture of the land dates back centuries before it was officially recognized as part of the country. After independence, the epitome of life in Punjab revolved around reviving the lost traditions of the area. Writers, performers, singers, dancers, and artists from every field have worked together and contributed to the growth of Punjabi culture and traditions.

A Language of Love

The Punjabi language is very similar to the official Urdu language of Pakistan. In specific areas, however, the dialect may differ slightly. The language dates back to the Indo-Aryan time and has not seen much change since its inception. Commonly, Punjabi is known as the language of love because of the popular folk tales like Heer Ranjha, Mirza Sahiban, and Sassi Punnuh. They give an insight into the culture and the ways of the Punjabi people. Famous Punjabi poets include Bulleh Shah, Baba Guru Nanak, and Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar.

Jubilant Music and Dances

An expression of joy- music and dancing in Punjab is very energetic. The most famous art form in dancing is the Bhangra. Over the years, the traditional Bhangra has evolved by mixing mainstream dance moves with it. Other dance forms include Sammi Dhamal, Dankara Julli, and Ludhi. No Punjabi wedding and festival is complete without large crowds gathering around to show off their dancing talents and singing skills.

Vibrant Dresses

Both men and women wear bright colored dresses in Punjab. For women, the Ghagra is a traditional piece of clothing. They accessorize it with a paranda, duppata, khusa, kola puri chappal, or tillay wali jutti. For men, the Tehmat and Kurta are very popular. They add a pagri and khusa to complete their conventional look. Phulkari is the local embroidery done on clothes. It has gained wide popularity in all of Pakistan.

Warm-Hearted People

The people of Punjab are lively humans who love to have fun. They are known for their hospitality and their big hearts. Different clans, tribes, and communities live together and support each other in everyday joys and sorrows. If you are traveling in Punjab and get lost on your way, just ask a Punjabi for directions and they will make sure you reach your destination safely.

Tasty Cuisines 

Lahore, the hub of Punjab, is perhaps the most renowned city in Pakistan for its rich cuisines. The food makes use of high quantities of ghee, spices, and meat. Exclusive dishes include Makai ki rotti, Saron Da Saag, Choley, Haleem, and Baryani. Punjabis are also fond of sweet cuisines. Zarda, Gulab-Jamuns, and Kheer are served to celebrate festivities. Lassi is a drink served in the summers to beat the heat. You can now find these special Punjabi dishes all over the world.

“Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts the book of their deeds, the book of their words, and the book of their art. Not one of these books can be understood unless we read the two others; but of the three, the only quite trustworthy one is the last. The acts of a nation may be triumphant by its good fortune; and its words mighty by the genius of a few of its children: but its art, only by the general gifts and common sympathies of the race.” – John Ruskin 

Islamic art and architecture exemplify and reflect Islamic teachings and values. Islamic art has focused on the depiction of patterns, whether purely geometric or floral and Arabic calligraphy as well, rather than on figures. Needless to say, Islamic art and architecture are predominantly influenced by Roman, Byzantine, Persian, and all other Empires which the Muslims conquered. It has developed distinct characteristics in the form of buildings, and the decoration of surfaces. The principal architectural colosseums still remain as mosques, tombs, shrines, and palaces that bring together people from all parts of the world to spectate the magnificence of Islamic art. Art and architecture is a soft instrument used to achieve world peace, as it brings everyone together under one roof as spectators. Let’s look at some examples from Muslim empires that still are instruments for peacebuilding.

MUGHAL EMPIRE

Wazir Khan Mosque: Built in Lahore in 1634 by Shah Jahan. It consists of four octagonal minarets embellished with domes on top of each. Domes not only symbolize royalty but also, positivity, sky, eternity, and perfection. They are commonly built above the mosques so that prayers offered could be seen from the heavens above. These domes are often decorated with Arabic calligraphy, similarly, Wazir Khan’s walls and domes are covered with frescos, calligraphy, and mosaic tile work. Wazir Khan still serves the purpose of a mosque and is also a famous landmark for many tourists across the world. 

Image Source: Shutterstock

Jama’i Mosque: Outside the Mughal Citadel, Jama Masjid of Delhi was built in 1656 by Shah Jahan. It was built with white marble and crowned with 3 large sandstone domes. These domes are uniquely designed to make the sound echo throughout the domes without any loudspeakers. It is still a functional mosque bringing people of Islamic faith from across the world to spectate this amazement of art. 

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Hagia Sophia: Built in Constantinople in 537 AD by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I as a Cathedral. After the Turkish conquest in 1453, it was repurposed as a mosque. It consists of one primary dome and two secondary domes supported by pendentives. After repurposing, it was restructured with the addition of mosaics, minarets, a great chandelier, a mihrab, and a minbar. In 1935, it was again repurposed as a museum. Thousands of spectators belonging from all walks of life visited this museum to be mesmerized by the precision of art and architecture. Recently, it was again repurposed as a mosque.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque): Built in Istanbul in 1616 by Ahmed I. This mosque imitates the architecture and art of Hagia Sophia. It consists of twenty-eight domes and six pencil minarets. The interior of this mosque is embellished with twenty-thousand ceramic tiles, sculpted marble mihrab, stained pieces of glass mounted in the domes, and Quranic verses calligraphy in the walls and ceiling. This mosque too serves as a prop to the audiences coming in from all over the world.

Integrated into the depth of the mystic culture, the festival celebrations of Sufi saints are some of the most important nights for all mystic lovers. These celebrations are more commonly known as ‘Urs’ and are conducted to commemorate the death anniversary of the Sufi saints. Their popularity in South Asia has led to their worldwide recognition attracting more than 500,000 devotees every year. Each Urs ritual takes place at specific dates. The most popular ones are:

Image Source: The News

Data Ganj Bakhsh The Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh is celebrated every year from 18 to 20 Safar (Islamic Hijri Calendar) at the Darbar Shareef in Lahore, Pakistan. Around 500 religious scholars and 200 spiritual leaders from India and Pakistan attend the event every year. Qirat competitions, free milk distribution, special prayers, lighting up of the shrine and local bazaar, beating of drums, and reciting hymns are some of the main elements of the festival. For three days, there is free food (Langar) distributed among the devotees as part of worship.

Bahauddin Zakariyah Suharwardy Multani died in 1268 in the region now known as Multan. His mausoleum is one of the most widely recognized across the country because of its unique structure. On the first day of the Urs, high profile attendees are allowed to clean the shrine with water performing a ‘ghusal’ of the shrine. Free meals are given to the participants. The community comes together to pray and participate in the festivities. Men, women, and children take turns to enter the shrine and leave small gifts.

Image Source: Daily Times

Image Source: DAWN

Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai In a small town of Pakistan known as ‘Bhit Shah’, you will find the darbar of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, a Sindhi Sufi scholar, mystic, saint, poet, and musician. The Urs is observed for three days starting 14 Safar (Islamic Hijri Calendar). Upon entering Bhit Shah, the attendees are met with lights and decorations placed all over the town. The highlight of the Urs is the playing of the Tambooroo, which is a musical instrument invented by the late Sufi himself. It fills the night with its notes and chants that bring a sense of calm to the people. 

Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti The largest Urs festival is observed in Ajmer, a city in India. It honors the death anniversary of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti, also known as “Gharib Nawaz” (Benefactor of The Poor). The festival attracts around 300,000 people every year. It is open to all faiths and is one of the only occasions where religious divides are forgotten. It is held in the Rajab month of the Islamic Calendar. This six-day Urs features night-long zikr, qawwali singing, and Badhaawa (a poem of praise) that is sung at the main entrance of the shrine

Image Source: Al Jazeera

Image Source: Shutterstock

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar The shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is located in Sindh, Pakistan, in a small town called Sehwan. On 18 Sha’aban (Islamic Hijri Calendar) there is a grand mela to celebrate the Urs of the Sufi saint. It attracts malangs (wandering Sufi holy men) from all over the country. The festival is dominated by Dhamal and Qawwali performances, folk singing, and traditional Sindhi wrestling. For many, this 3-day festival is the highlight of their trip to Sindh as they can witness the local Sindhi Sufi culture in full swing.

Ameer Khusro, the voice that still echoes in the corridors of shrines across Pakistan and India. Born in 1253 in Patiyali, Kasganj district, modern-day Uttar Pradesh, India, Ameer Khusro is a prolific icon in the mystic history of the subcontinent. A poet, a musician, and a scholar – Ameer Khusro is a prolific icon in the mystic history of the subcontinent. Ameer Khusro is labeled as the “Parrot of India” and rightfully so. Ameer Khusro’s prominent works are mostly in the Persian and Hindavi. Although he does have some works in Arabic as well.

Ameer Khusro wrote many playful riddles, songs and legends which have become a part of popular culture in South Asia. His riddles are one of the most popular forms of Hindavi poetry today. It is a genre that involves double entendre or wordplay. Innumerable riddles by the poet have been passed through oral tradition over the last seven centuries. Through his literary output, Khusrau represents one of the first recorded Indian personages with a true multicultural or pluralistic identity. Musicians credit Khusrau with the creation of six styles of music: qaul, qalbana, naqsh, gul, tarana and khyal.

Born in the town of Patiala in Northern India, Ameer Khusro was a court noble and a poet, initially in the court of other smaller nobles and princes, then later permanently at the court of the Sultan of Delhi. Later, Ameer Khusro spent most of his life dedicated to the Sufi saint of Delhi, Muhammad Khawaja Nizam ud din Auliya. His inherent and deep attachment to Khawaja Nizam ud din Auliya took him to a parallel universe of mysticism. This mystic journey led him far away from worldly desires and entirely immersed into the art of spiritual salvation. Ameer Khusro was so deeply devoted to his spiritual mentor Nizam ud din Auliya that he could not bear the news of his passing. His devotion was so intense that he passed away shortly after Nizam ud din Auliya’s death, that too on the soil of Nizam’s shrine. Ameer Khusro is one of the disciples of Nizam who are buried in Nizam’s shrine. This shrine is a place for pilgrimage for both Hindus and Muslims to this day.

A renowned couplet of Khusro’s works goes: