Qawwali Without Borders Charity Concert

On the evening of May 16, 2025, the Tree of Life Ceremony Hall will resonate with the soul-stirring sounds of one of the world’s most transcendent musical traditions as The Rumi Cup and Rhoda Sufi Garden present Qawwali Without Borders. Headlined by the internationally acclaimed Ustad Mushfiq Hashimi, this extraordinary event will offer Ottawa audiences a rare opportunity to experience authentic Qawwali in its full spiritual and artistic splendour.

The concert will feature the traditional instruments that give Qawwali its distinctive power - the harmonium’s resonant chords providing the melodic foundation, the tabla’s complex rhythmic patterns driving the music forward, and the soaring vocals that have made this Sufi devotional music one of UNESCO’s recognized Intangible Cultural Heritages. These elements combine to create what scholars describe as “a sonic pathway to the sublime,” capable of transporting listeners to states of spiritual ecstasy.

Ustad Mushfiq Hashimi brings to this performance a lifetime of mastery. Ustad Mushfiq Hashimi brings to this performance a lifetime of mastery. He has been trained since childhood by India's most revered musical gurus including Pandit Rohit Chatterjee, Mashqoor Ali Khan Saheb, Pandit Biresh Roy, and flute legend Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Now under the tutelage of Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty of the Patiala Gharana, Hashimi represents the living bridge between Qawwali’s 13th century origins and its contemporary global relevance.

His extraordinary multilingual vocal artistry, spanning twelve linguistic traditions, combined with his seventh-generation expertise in Persian calligraphy, makes him uniquely qualified to interpret this art form for modern audiences while preserving its sacred essence.

This is our make-or-break moment. The Rumi Cup and Rhoda Sufi Garden risk losing our physical space without immediate support - every ticket bought and silent auction bid at this charity concert directly contributes to our survival as a cultural centre for the arts.

Looking forward to your presence at this Mehfil....