Lahore (Urdu Times) A grand Mehfil-e-Naat-o-Sama was organized at Alhamra Cultural Complex in collaboration with the Asian Cultural Association of Pakistan and Lahore Arts Council Alhamra.

Lahore (Urdu Times) A grand Mehfil-e-Naat-o-Sama was organized at Alhamra Cultural Complex in collaboration with the Asian Cultural Association of Pakistan and Lahore Arts Council Alhamra. The introductory ceremony of two naats by Living Legend poetess Shahida Latif was also part of the gathering. The Asian Cultural Association of Pakistan, maintaining its traditions, organized a grand Mehfil-e-Naat-o-Sama in connection with Milad-un-Nabi صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم in collaboration with Lahore Arts Council Alhamra at Alhamra Cultural Complex Hall One, near Qaddafi Stadium Lahore, with great devotion and respect.

The Mehfil-e-Naat-o-Sama was presided over by renowned columnist and senior-most event organizer Pir Syed Sohail Bukhari, Gaddi Nashin of Hazrat Syed Pir Chishti Auliya Sakhi Sarkar Makki رحمتہ اللہ علیہ Lahore. The duties of hosting were performed excellently by the famous compere Riaz Khan. The Mehfil-e-Naat-o-Sama formally began with the recitation of the Holy Quran and Hamd-e-Bari Ta’ala by renowned Naat Khawan Ghulam Mustafa Qadri.

Riaz Khan said that the gathering has been divided into three parts. The first part began with a special Sufi performance by the Versatile Performance Group. Senior journalist Shahnawaz Rana presented a naat. Film star and singer Megha expressed her devotion by presenting a Naat-e-Rasool صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم. Folk singer Abbas Jatt presented the Sehra of Nabi Pak صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم, which had been written by his father, legendary folk singer and actor Ashiq Jatt. This moment was also interesting in the sense that when the colours of our folk culture become connected with the love of the Prophet, their quality changes.

Singer Nasir Biraaj presented a Manqabat and contributed to the gathering. Saqlain Abbas Dhol Group presented a dhol performance and enlivened the gathering. Just as the dhol has its own distinct identity in the culture of Punjab, the dhol performance at the Mehfil-e-Naat-o-Sama also established its own distinct identity. Naat Khawans Mian Hamid Raza Chishti, Hafiz Azim Ali Qadri, Salman Naseer Qadri, Ghulam Ghaus Qadri, Allama Owais Qadri, and Muhammad Nauman Manzoor Qadri expressed their devotion and love in magnificent words.

The second part of the gathering was the introductory ceremony of two naats by Living Legend poetess Shahida Latif. One naat was “Karam Kijiye” and the other was “Zulf-e-Mustafa.” The Naat Khawan of both these naats is Hassan Raza Warisi, and they have been recorded by Khaliq Chishti (Music World).

On this occasion, Pir Syed Sohail Bukhari, while describing his association with Madam Rashida Latif as spanning two decades, said that Madam Shahida Latif is a good poet, an intelligent journalist, as well as a compassionate and selfless personality. He said that his contact with her dates back to the time when she regularly published the monthly Overseas International Magazine, and the magazine used to be published in four colours on art paper. Nowadays, she is unwell, and he appealed to everyone to pray for her speedy recovery.

Pir Syed Sohail Bukhari further said that the poetry of Madam Shahida Latif is not merely words but an expression of the devotion she has for Nabi Pak صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم. When her naats created by her were screened on the SMD screen, the audience present at the gathering watched them with great attention, and the hall echoed with slogans of Nara-e-Risalat.

The third part of the Mehfil-e-Naat-o-Sama was Qawwali. Qawwali is one of the few traditions of the subcontinent that has been attracting people’s hearts for centuries. The colours of Qawwali were carried forward by Kamran Yousaf Mianmiri Qawwal, Adnan Haidari, and Nauman Haidari Qawwal, and they received great appreciation from the audience.

During the gathering, compere Riaz Khan paid tribute to the 45 years of selfless services of Pir Syed Sohail Bukhari and said that his services are not hidden from anyone. The continuity with which he organizes award ceremonies, tributes to legends, condolence references, mushairas, events in connection with Muharram-ul-Haram, and events according to every occasion is commendable.

In his presidential address, Pir Syed Sohail Bukhari said that the blessed life of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم is a shining example for all of us. By following it, we can attain the pleasure of the Lord of the Worlds, and the creation of Allah can achieve success in both worlds. The appearance of Nabi Pak صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم is a source of happiness for the entire Muslim Ummah, and his Seerat is an ideal example for the world, by following which every human being can easily live their life.

Pir Syed Sohail Bukhari further said that just as He is Rabb-ul-Alameen, similarly Nabi Pak is Rahmat-ul-lil-Alameen, and this is a matter of pride for us.

Pir Syed Sohail Bukhari thanked Lahore Arts Council Alhamra Executive Director Muhammad Nawaz Gondal and said that he is playing a prominent role in the promotion of culture and Sufism in this environment and is providing full patronage to the Asian Cultural Association of Pakistan.