Mehfil
Mehfil (also spelled mahfil) is a formal venue where indoor recreational activities such as poetry (mushaira), singing, music, and dance are entertained in parts of the Indian subcontinent. It is part of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb culture.
Historically, mehfils were presented in the homes or palaces of Muslim royalty or noblemen, who acted as these artists' patrons.[1] Mehfils are also an integral part of the Hyderabadi Muslim community, and used as a way of unity among them, all around the world.[2]
Today they are generally held in the homes of especially avid music lovers or the lovers of poetry-recitation gatherings. Ghazals are a common genre performed at mehfils. Ghazal recitation gatherings are called 'Mehfil-e-Mushaira' in the Urdu language.
Etymology[edit]
The word mehfil derives from the Arabic word mehfil (Arabic: محفل), which means a (festive) "gathering to entertain (or praise someone)."
Mehfil-e-Naat is an Islamic mehfil (forum) in which people sit and recite poetry in the praise of Muhammad.
Mehfil-e-Sama is a gathering held for Sufi devotional music such as Qawwali or prayer and chanting, Hadhra, part of Dhikr (remembrance of God).
Popular culture[edit]
Several mehfil performances may be seen in the Satyajit Ray film Jalsaghar (1958). In recent times, live onstage concert performances are also called 'Mehfil'.[3] "The word 'Mehfil' generally means a place where a music or dance-performance is in progress."[4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ 'One last bright spark of Lucknow's glorious tradition', TwoCircles.net website, Published 11 Sep 2016, Retrieved 10 Jan 2017
- ^ http://twocircles.net/2016mar17/1458227872.html, 'Ghulam Ali to launch 'Ghar Wapsi' music in Delhi, police cover sought', Published 17 March 2016, Retrieved 10 Jan 2017
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xVF4Eyl2-A, Mehfil (a 'tabla' and 'sarangi' live onstage concert), videoclip on YouTube, Uploaded 27 Sep 2016, Retrieved 10 Jan 2017
- ^ Ranade, Ashok Damodar (2006). Music Contexts: A Concise Dictionary of Hindustani Music. Bibliophile South Asia. ISBN 978-81-85002-63-7.
External links[edit]
- Pahenji Mehfil
- Mehfil Official Web
- article on Classical Music, Page describing mehfil, author: Deepika Singh, Published 8 May 2000, Retrieved 10 Jan 2017
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