Qawwali, the devotional music of the Sufis, has long been a powerful medium of prayer, poetry, and performance. Rooted in South Asia’s mystical traditions, it continues to connect people across generations with its lyrical invocations of love, longing, and surrender.
Bringing this timeless form to modern audiences, Yatra with Aanchal arrives at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai, on September 7, 2025. Presented in collaboration with Kaafi Kultured and Avid Learning, the concert offers an intimate mehfil-style experience of Sufi and indie Qawwali music.
Led by Aanchal Shrivastava, a singer, composer, and songwriter, Yatra revives the centuries-old tradition of poetic storytelling through music. One of the very few women in India performing Qawwali in its undiluted form, Aanchal stays true to the oral and spiritual roots of the genre. She brings to life verses of Amir Khusrow, Baba Bulleh Shah, Jigar Moradabadi, and others with raw honesty and feminine grace.
Her seamlessly blends classic Qawwalis with original compositions such as Ishq Akela and Woh Shaam, alongside folk renditions like Din Shagna Da (featured in Amazon Prime Video’s Four More Shots Please!), Kadi Aao Ni, Haji Lok, Aaj Rang Hai, Ye Ishq Nahi Aasan, and Nehar Wale Pul. Following in the footsteps of legends like Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Abida Parveen, Aanchal bridges languages and traditions—Punjabi, Braj, Urdu, Rajasthani, and Sindhi—while preserving the spiritual heartbeat of Qawwali.
Speaking about the upcoming concert, Aanchal said, “This isn’t just a performance, it’s a prayer in public. To sing Qawwali in the truest sense, as an offering, as surrender, in a space like the Royal Opera House feels like honouring the tradition in its full dignity. It’s the kind of evening that asks nothing but your stillness.”
Avid Learning and Royal Opera House continue their commitment to presenting musical experiences that honour India’s living traditions. Through evenings like Yatra with Aanchal, they aim to preserve and celebrate the country’s vast sonic and storytelling heritage.
