A two-day Qawwali Festival was held for Sufi music lovers, qawwals and people from different walks of life at Alhamra Arts Centre, Lahore on Thursday. Renowned qawwals including Asif Ali Khan Santu, Mehboob Papu, Qawal Hajji Badar Ali Khan, Nadeem Jameel Khan and Nasar Ullah Salamat Khan enthralled the audiences through their performances. An impressive turnout of viewers was observed on the occasion. On the first day of the festival, renowned Qawal Asif Ali Khan Santu together with Mehboob Papu Mian performed. Asif Ali Khan is known for his affiliation with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Asif has the quality to amaze his audience with his recital of Sufi poetry. On 2nd day of the festival, Qawal Hajji Badar Ali Khan, Nadeem Jameel Khan and Nasar Ullah Salamat Khan mesmerised and thrilled the audience with great qawwalies. People were dancing, enjoying and absorbing the sufi music. Alhamra Arts Council Executive Director Capt Atta Muhammad Khan, while talking to media said, “Lahore Arts Council has started this spiritual journey to spread the message of love. We have a long history of promoting the literary and cultural activities to support the peace and love in society. “Qawali is not bound by colours, nations or borders, so we send out a message through these festivals that Pakistan is a land of peaceful and loving people”, he added. Alhamra Information Officer Samreen Bukhari said that Alhamra arranged this festival as a treat for the people who love Qawali and wanted to listen their favourite Qawal with the mesmerising multiplicity of Sufi poetry, adding that it is undoubtedly a delightful pleasure for qawali lovers. She further said that Alhamra always strives to promote such events and that this open-air ambiance remained perfect for the message of love and peace through festival. Published in Daily Times, April 23rd 2018.