The Thursday evening qawwali at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah is one of the most profound musical experiences available in Delhi. After evening prayers (maghrib), hereditary qawwali singers gather in the open courtyard of the shrine and perform devotional songs in Urdu, Punjabi, and Persian in honour of Nizamuddin Auliya and the broader Sufi tradition. The sessions typically last two to three hours.
The performance takes place in the open air, surrounded by devotees in various states of religious ecstasy. Visitors of all faiths are welcome. The crush can be significant on major Islamic festivals and during Urs (anniversary of the saint's death). No tickets, no reservation — arrive by 8pm and find a spot near the courtyard. The combination of poetry, music, and collective devotion makes it unlike anything available elsewhere in the city.