Sufiana Kalam is a form of song that contains Sufi Lyrics. The word Sufiana is related to the Sufis while the term Kalam means lyrics. Sufiana Kalam is one of the best forms of lyrics that can be found in the entirety of world. However, to understand the beauty in Sufiana Kalam one has to come closer to it and at the same time get an idea about the Sufis and their path in life. The Sufiana Kalam songs are widely sung and chanted in the Kashmir valleys of India. This is the place where you come for your next trip because this place has everything to offer to you. You would be able to see the wonderful beauty of Mother Nature in its foggy valleys and snow laden mountain cliffs and peaks. The Sufiana Kalam form of folk music is practiced in the northern most state of India Jammu and Kashmir quite widely.

Sufiana Kalam music and Kashmir are almost two inseparable identities. The exquisite scenes and the enchanting beauty of Kashmir are found in almost every tiny detail of this serene place. It might be because of this that some of the famous poets like Allama Iqbal and Jahangir, who came here were mesmerized by nature’s splendour and had written some of the best lines of their lifetime inspired by the prettiness of the land. The Mughal Emperor Jahangir, who was also an enthusiast of nature and poetry, was himself so enthralled that he had gifted this land the title of ‘paradise on earth’ through his couplet ‘If there is Paradise on Earth; it is this, it is this, it is this’. Therefore, with such beauty it is quite obvious that composers of Sufiana Kalam were to be by drawing enthusiasm for creating profound form of soothing music. Again, the Sufiana form of music includes to the richness of Kashmiri cultural heritage. Thus, it is almost impossible to separate Kashmir and Sufiana Kalam form of music.

Sufism

A group of individuals in the Islam religion who are free-thinking spiritualist are called the Sufis and he never uses anything intoxicating. There are however, some confusion existing about whom to be understood as real Sufis because some advocate that the term Sufi comes from the Arabic word ‘suf’ meaning wool that signified the simple woollen dress of early Muslim saints. Again, the term ‘saaf’ in Arabic means pure and hence, according to Sufi al-Rudhabari’s combined explanation is that Sufis are ones who have a pure heart and were wool over their purity.

Sufiana Kalam

Sufiana Kalam is considered to be a form of Kashmiri classical music that has its own maqam or ragas or melodic modes. This requires the santoor, a hundred-stringed musical device to accompany the other form of musical instruments. It is from Kashmir that the Indian master of Santoor Shivkumar Sharma also hails. The instruments that are played along with the major instrument – santoor, are wasool, setar, tabla, wasool and harmonium. The origin of the Sufiana Kalam form of music can be traced back to the fifteenth century AD. It was during this period that the Iran people had brought with them this form of music. Not only that, it is also popular among the Kashmiri Sufi sages. There are two forms of dance that are accompanied by this form of music. The Hafiza dance and the Bacha Nagma dance are usually involving this sort of music.

Accompanied in Dance

The Sufiana Kalam form of music is generally seen to have been sung with Hafiza form of dance and at times with Bacha Nagma dance. The Hafiza Nagma or Hafiza dance is performed by professional female dancers called Hafizas. It is they who sing it on their own while dancing. The song has got the Persian accent in its song as it is largely influenced by the Persian literary works. Due to such influences, the lyrics are excellent and have got profound meanings that can send a sincere audience to deep thoughts. The off-shoot form of Hafiza Dane is Bacha Nagma dance, with which as well the Sufiana Kalam music is also common to be played or sung. Thus, Sufiana Kalam is almost found in all spheres of Kashmiri culture. A huge number of Kashimiri people are great singers, composers and lyricists of the Sufiana Kalam form of music. Some of them are Saaz Nawaz, M.A. Setari, Sheik A. Aziz, Hasaan Sofi and many others.

Reaching Jammu and Kashmir

Thus, having gained an idea about the Sufiana Kalam form of music, it might be now time for you to come closer to Sufiana Kalam form of Kashmiri music. For this you might have to take a tour of Kashmir. There are several routes for reaching J&K from other parts of India. If you go by road the NH 1A would take you into the Kashmir valleys. Trains are available from all major stations of India if you are interest about railways. Similarly, flights are also available from various cities of India to the domestic airports at Leh and Jammu.