Mohammad Akram/New Delhi

Yellow dominated the festivities at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, on Basant Panchami, a day dedicated to spring and the Goddess of wisdom and knowledge Saraswati.

The dargah of 13-14th-century Sufi has been celebrating Basant Panchami since the days of Amir Khusro.

This year too both Hindus and Muslims were seen visiting the dargah and paying obeisance to the saint who lay resting there. People came dressed in yellow and the Dargah was beautified with yellow marigolds filling the place with divine fragrance.

A Young singer performing at the dargah

Special ceremonies are performed on Basant Panchami at the Dargad. People offer yellow flowers and a yellow sheet at the tombs of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro.

This tradition has been going on for many decades at the dargah, one of the most revered spiritual centers in Delhi. On this day, a traditional Sufi Qawwali concert is organized where singers offer tributes to the divine.

Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya was a Sufi saint of the Chishtiya order; he preached love, brotherhood and humanity. He was born in 1228 in the Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh and became a disciple of Khwaja Moinuuddin Chushty, whose dargah is at Ajmer, Rajasthan.

Dargah's Sajjadanashin Khwaja Syed Mohammad Nizami said that Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya had no children and he was very fond of his nephew Taqiuddin.

Taqiuddin's sudden passing away left Hazrat Nizamuddin heartbroken and distraught with grief. At this stage, Amir Khusro, who was his favourite disciple, took a unique initiative to please his Guru.

Special Mehfil at the Dargah

Khusro saw some women all clad in yellow going to temples. He also noticed that all of them carried yellow flowers as offerings. When he asked them, the women said they would offer yellow flowers to please God.

Seeing this, Khusro wore yellow clothes to please Hazrat Nizamuddin and went to him with yellow mustard flowers.

He danced with his composition 'Sakala Bana Phool Rahi Sarson..'. Hazrat Nizamuddin overcame his grief and smiled at what he saw in front of him. This started the celebrations of the festival of Basant Panchami at the Sufi shrine.

Yellow colour is seen all around the dargah on this day - yellow marigolds, cooked yellow rice is made for distribution among visitors, and yellow chaddars isi. On this day, a yellow sheet is offered on the tombs of the Sufis as against green on other days.

Sajjadanasheen Syed Anees said that this tradition started 700 years ago and since then this festival has been celebrated every year with the same devotion and enthusiasm.

The specialty of this day is the "Khusro ki Basant" Mehfil organized at the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin.

Classical Qawwali is presented in this Mehfil,. Qawwals like Syed Zafar Ahmed Khan, Azam Khan, Kamal Sabri Sarangi, Amin Khan, Saqib Khan and Mannan Khan mesmerized the audience with their singing in the "Khusro ki Basant" Mehfil.

Qawwal Saqib Khan said that this series is organized every year on the occasion of Basant Panchami and this time the event was even more special because there was an opportunity to present Sufi Qawwali in the court of Amir Khusro.

Dargah of Nizamuddin Auiliya

This festival of Basant Panchami is not just a religious event, but also a social and cultural message. On this day people of different religions and communities gather together here, and give the message of mutual love and brotherhood. Every year a large number of people visit the dargah and feel this amazing unity.

Sajjadanashin Khwaja Syed Mohammad Nizami said that on this day people of all religions come together and attend the dargah, and this shows that we are all humans born of the same master. This festival rises above religion and gives the message of unity, love, and harmony to everyone.

Sufi Basant Panchami celebrated at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah once again proved that there is a wonderful blend of Ganga-Jamuni culture in Indian culture.

This event is not just a religious festival but it is also a cultural celebration that unites not only Muslims but all communities every year and spreads the message of mutual brotherhood.

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The day's mehfils, qawwals and decoration of the dargah with colourful flowers showcased that there is unity in diversity in India, and gave us an opportunity to understand and honour our cultural heritage.