Music and Poetry of South Asian Mystics: an exploration of Sufi and Qawwali songs

IN-PERSON with Anhad Naad Collective
$25 Day of | $20 In advance

We appreciate advance registration.

Join us for exploration of traditional devotional music from the motherland of Yoga.

Anhad Naad Collective presents:
Music and Poetry of South Asian Mystics: an exploration of Sufi and Qawwali songs.

We are sharing our own experience with Sufism through singing, music and poetry. Audience is encouraged to sing along with us, we will provide lyrics with English translations.
Historically, in South Asia, Sufism played a huge role in inter-faith syncretism and Sufi shrines (dargahs) have been pivotal to communal harmony.

  • Divya Vyas – vocal

  • Irum M. – vocal

  • Vivek Anand – vocal

  • Rajnish Kamat – vocal

  • Abhay Anand – tabla, percussion

  • Jun Ishimuro aka Qb Moda Jazz – DAWS (digital audio workstation) Keyboard, flute

To listen to a sample recording please visit SoundCloud


BIO Anhad Naad Collective:
Formed in 2019, Anhad Naad Collective is a genre-defying ensemble rooted in the exploration of South Asian musical traditions and their intersections with global genres. The collective had its debut concert in 2020 in San Francisco, led by core members Divya Purohit Vyas and Jun Ishimuro (of Qb Moda Jazz). Initially, their work centered around blending South Asian raga-based music with the soulful textures of jazz, R&B, and Black musical traditions.
With a flexible and evolving lineup of collaborating artists, Anhad Naad Collective has performed at notable Bay Area venues including Bird & Beckett, Integral Yoga Institute, the Golden Gate Park Bandstand, and events such as San Francisco’s Summer of Music hosted by Noise Pop and the Civic Joy Fund.
In 2023, the group expanded its focus to delve deeper into South Asian spiritual music, with a special emphasis on Sufi Qawwali traditions. Anhad Naad treats the spiritual dimension of Sufi poetry and music with deep reverence, often seeking guidance from poets and experts from Pakistan and India. Lead vocalist Divya Purohit Vyas has previously been a part of Bay Dervish in Alameda, a spiritual music collective associated with Sufi Way, led by the late Kiran Rana and Jeanne Rana.

  • Anhad Naad Collective Current Members:
  • Divya Purohit Vyas – Vocals
  • Irum Aftab – Vocals
  • Vivek Anand – Vocals, Harmonium
  • Rajnish Kamat – Vocals
  • Jun Ishimuro – Flute, Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
  • Abhay Shankar Anand – Tabla, percussions, Sound Engineering

Sufi Devotional Music from North India and Pakistan

In-person | $20 In advance use promo code SUFI, exp. 1/12/24
$25 Day of

Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.

Join us for exploration of traditional devotional music from the motherland of Yoga. This gathering will explore Sufi devotional music from North India and Pakistan lead by Sukhawat Ali Khan, an Eleventh Generation Singer of the Sham Chaurasi Gharana of hindustani music in Pakistan.

In the first part we will focus on listening and experiencing the effect of raaglead by Sukhawat ji. We will also discuss sufi lyrics/ poetry. Sukhawat ji will demonstrate the basic characteristics and phrasing of simple raags commonly used in hindustani sufi music participants can learn and sing along.

In the second half of the program, we will sing popular qawwali songs together in call and response format. The lyrics sheets with English translations will be provided.

Sukhawat Ali Khan ji’s sufi music samples:

Sukhawat Ali Khan will be accompanied by his student Jun Ishimuro on keyboard and flute. Jun is a music producer under Qb Moda Jazz Soundcloud, former member of Astrud Castillo Cosmic Caravan. Acoustic Guitar accompaniment by Daljeet Singh. drums by Ryan Melnick and Saima Jamshed.


Sukhawat Ali Khan, (born 1950), son of Indian-Pakistani vocalist Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and nephew of Nazkat Ali Khan is a classical singer of Sham Chaurasia gharana tradition founded in 16th century as well as a performer of North Indian and Pakistani classical music and related folk music. He began singing and playing at age seven and has performed around the world.

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