Akhilesh Yadav to honour Ghulam Ali after successful Varanasi show

Hours after according state guest status to Ghulam Ali, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav announced that he would honour the ghazal maestro at his official residence in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Hours after according state guest status to Ghulam Ali, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav announced that he will honour the ghazal maestro at his official residence in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Ghulam Ali’s concert at the 6-day Sankat Mochan Festival comes after many of his shows were cancelled in India due to threats from hindutva groups.

Read: Here to give message of love, peace: Ghulam Ali before Varanasi concert

Prof BN Mishra, brother of Sankat Mochan Temple’s chief priest Mahant Vishambhar Nath Mishra, said, “District administration officials have informed us about the development. Now, Ali would leave for Lucknow instead of Delhi on Wednesday and attend the felicitation ceremony. After that he would leave for Delhi.”

Listen to some of the maestro’s best works here

Ali performed to a ‘packed house’ at the Sankat Mochan Temple premises in Varanasi on Tuesday evening, beginning the show with his famous alaap and a thumari: “Yaad to usey karu jise kabhi bhulaya ho maine”.

Read: 10 Shiv Sena protesters marching to Ghulam Ali function in Gujarat held

As Ghulam Ali stepped onto the stage to perform some of his best known works, locals chanted Har Har Mahadev, with raised hands. He even surprised the rapturous audience with some new ghazals.

As Ghulam Ali stepped onto the stage, locals chanted Har Har Mahadev, with raised hands.

Ghulam Ali’s concert at the six-day Sankat Mochan Festival comes after multiple shows were cancelled in India due to threats from hindutva groups. The only exception was his concert in Kolkata in January.

Read: Ghulam Ali’s music event in Delhi cancelled after threats