Mehfil or mahfil (Urdu: محفل), alternatively known as Bazm (Urdu: بزم) is a formal venue where indoor recreational activities such as poetic symposiums (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 | edit source]
The word mehfil derives from the Arabic word mehfil (Arabic: محفل), which means a (festive) "gathering to entertain (or praise someone)."
Tafsir-ul-Quran Mahfil is an event where people gather to discuss teaching of Quran and learn more about Islam.
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).
In popular culture[edit | edit source]
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 | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 'One last bright spark of Lucknow's glorious tradition', TwoCircles.net website, Published 11 Sep 2016, Retrieved 10 Jan 2017
- ↑ "Ghulam Ali to launch 'Ghar Wapsi' music in Delhi, police cover sought". TwoCircles.net. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 May 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ↑ "- YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ↑ Ranade, Ashok Damodar (2006). Music Contexts: A Concise Dictionary of Hindustani Music. Bibliophile South Asia. ISBN 978-81-85002-63-7.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Pahenji Mehfil
- Mehfil official website
- article on Classical Music, Page describing mehfil, author: Deepika Singh, Published 8 May 2000, Retrieved 10 Jan 2017
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