The 15th edition of the Tehzeeb Festival opened with soulful melodies and rare classical performances at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) on Saturday evening. Held in collaboration with Tehzeeb Foundation, the two-day music festival is being hosted at the Zia Mohyeddin Theatre, drawing large crowds of music enthusiasts.
The event kicked off with a mesmerising performance by visually impaired vocalist Mehak Rashid, who captivated the audience by singing a Khayal thumri while simultaneously playing the tanpura. Her mastery and expression earned a standing ovation.
The festival’s international flavour was elevated by Bangladeshi vocalist Niloy Ahsan Zulqarnain, who dazzled the crowd with his rich Dhrupad singing style, adding classical gravitas to the evening. His performance stood out even among a strong line-up of Pakistani maestros.
Ustad Mumtaz Ali Sabzal delivered an innovative act blending classical ragas with Balochi folk on the banjo, offering a unique take on Raag Des. From Rahim Yar Khan, singer Ahmed Raza Khan of the Patiala Gharana presented Khayal and Multani Kafi, earning warm applause from the audience.
Renowned tabla player Haroon Samuel stunned the gathering with a solo performance dedicated to the late Ustad Umar Hayat Khan of the Punjab Gharana. The performance served as a tribute to the Ustad’s legacy.
The festival continues on Sunday, featuring more performances in raags such as Malkauns, Bageshri, Marwa, Darbari, and Ghazals. Notable names lined up for the finale include Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Izzat Fateh Ali Khan, and Meeta Pandit from India.
Tehzeeb Foundation founder Sharif Awan, speaking at the festival, said the event was conceived to promote the subcontinent’s deep-rooted ustad-shagird (master-disciple) tradition. “Just as a chef blends spices to create a dish, raags are crafted with care and experience,” he said. Awan also remembered legendary tabla maestros Ustad Umar Hayat Khan and the recently passed Ustad Bashir Khan.
Kaif Ghaznavi, the festival host and cultural promoter, noted that Tehzeeb Foundation has been organising classical music events for the past 18 years to highlight Pakistan’s rich cultural identity. She emphasised that the platform provides visibility to emerging musicians and singers.
The event is supported by the Sindh government and various private institutions. NAPA chairman Javed Iqbal, in his brief speech before presenting commemorative shields, paid tribute to the late Zia Mohyeddin, calling him a towering figure of Pakistan’s performing arts.
