Photos: Delhi’s Nizamuddin Dargah dons spring’s yellow for Sufi Basant
Updated On Jan 22, 2018 04:41 PM IST
Every year as winter makes way for Delhi’s brief spring, celebrations in the form of Sufi Basant or Basant Panchami begins at the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. The festival dates back to the 12th century when poet Amir Khusrow dedicated songs of spring to Nizamuddin Auliya, his spiritual guide.
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Updated on Jan 22, 2018 04:41 PM IST
The dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya is abuzz, and decked in yellow for Basant Panchami. Sufi Basant as it is popularly known, dates back to the 12th century when celebrated poet Amir Khusro dedicated songs of spring to his khwaja (spiritual master) Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)
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Updated on Jan 22, 2018 04:41 PM IST
Every year as winter walks away to make space for Delhi’s brief spring, people mark the shift of the season by offering yellow mustard flowers --or even yellow marigolds -- at the shrine of the aforementioned 14th century Sufi saint. Devotees come dressed in yellow to mark the day. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)
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Updated on Jan 22, 2018 04:41 PM IST
The tale goes that Hazrat Nizamuddin’s young nephew Taqiuddin Nooh had died and grief stricken for six months the saint withdrew from society and left his followers thinking of ways to cheer him up. One day as Amir Khusro sat near Arab ki Sarai, he saw some women in yellow carrying marigold flowers and singing devotional songs. When asked the reason, they said that it was goddess Kalkaji’s day. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)
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Updated on Jan 22, 2018 04:41 PM IST
Khusrow is then said to have donned a yellow ghagra, covered his head with a yellow chunari , and burst into spring songs with a dholak around his neck for his master. Hazrat Nizamuddin broke into laughter at the sight and thus ended his mourning. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)
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Updated on Jan 22, 2018 04:41 PM IST
It has been more than seven centuries since but the congregation continues to celebrate Sufi Basant in remembrance of the incident. Special qawwali programmes are organised on the day and spring songs are dedicated to Hazrat Nizamuddin. The qawwali which usually happens in the courtyard, sees an exception for Sufi Basant and is taken to the tombs of Khusro and Hazrat Nizamuddin. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)
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Updated on Jan 22, 2018 04:41 PM IST