PRESS RELEASE: QAWWALI BEYOND BORDERS CHARITY CONCERT

Qawwali Without Borders Charity Concert ft. Mushfiq Hashimi

1446 Dhul Qadah 18 / Friday, May 16, 2025

Tree of Life Hall at Rhoda Sufi Garden

2871 St. Joseph Blvd., Orleans, Ontario

18:30 - 20:30

Ottawa Prepares for An Evening of Qawwali Mastery with Ustad Mushfiq Hashimi

Qawwali Without Borders concert to showcase centuries-old Sufi tradition with rare instruments and global influences

OTTAWA, ON – On the evening of May 16, 2025, the Tree of Life Ceremony Hall will resonate with the soul-stirring sounds of one of the world’s most transcendent musical traditions as The Rumi Cup and Rhoda Sufi Garden present Qawwali Without Borders. Headlined by the internationally acclaimed Ustad Mushfiq Hashimi, this extraordinary event will offer Ottawa audiences a rare opportunity to experience authentic Qawwali in its full spiritual and artistic splendour.

The concert will feature the traditional instruments that give Qawwali its distinctive power - the harmonium’s resonant chords providing the melodic foundation, the tabla’s complex rhythmic patterns driving the music forward, and the soaring vocals that have made this Sufi devotional music one of UNESCO’s recognized Intangible Cultural Heritages. These elements combine to create what scholars describe as “a sonic pathway to the sublime,” capable of transporting listeners to states of spiritual ecstasy.

Ustad Mushfiq Hashimi brings to this performance a lifetime of mastery. He has been trained since childhood by India's most revered musical gurus including Pandit Rohit Chatterjee, Mashqoor Ali Khan Saheb, Pandit Biresh Roy, and flute legend Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Now under the tutelage of Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty of the Patiala Gharana, Hashimi represents the living bridge between Qawwali’s 13th century origins and its contemporary global relevance. His extraordinary multilingual vocal artistry, spanning twelve linguistic traditions, combined with his seventh-generation expertise in Persian calligraphy, makes him uniquely qualified to interpret this art form for modern audiences while preserving its sacred essence.

The event marks a significant moment for Ottawa’s cultural landscape, presented by The Rumi Cup, a fresh new nonprofit arts organization dedicated to creating spaces where world music and multicultural traditions can flourish. “This isn’t just a performance,” explains Mushfiq. “It's an invitation to experience how art can dissolve boundaries - between cultures, between faiths, between performer and audience. When Qawwali issues and those ancient instruments fill the space, something magical happens that transcends any single tradition.”

Set against the backdrop of the Tree of Life Ceremony Hall’s striking architecture, which incorporates a 300-year-old door from Rajasthan and handcrafted Tunisian tiles, the evening promises to be as visually captivating as it is musically profound. The space itself, adorned with storytelling carpets from indigenous traditions around the world, reflects The Rumi Cup’s commitment to creating environments where diverse cultural expressions can dialogue and inspire. “This is our make-or-break moment. The Rumi Cup and Rhoda Sufi Garden risk losing our physical space without immediate support - every ticket bought and silent auction bid at this charity concert directly contributes to our survival as a cultural centre for the arts,” adds Hamdi Ben Aissa, co-founder of the Rhoda Sufi Garden. 

Tickets start at $40, with VIP tickets at $80 that includes one free beverage of choice and one masterclass with Ustad Mushfiq Hashimi, for either calligraphy, vocals, or classical instruments. A baby-sitting service is available on-site for children at or below the age of 13 years, and can be paid for with any tiered ticket. Proceeds will support The Rumi Cup’s ongoing mission to nurture Ottawa as a hub for intercultural artistic exchange.

For media inquiries, interview requests, or high-resolution images, please contact:

Yahya Syed

Artistic Director

The Rumi Cup

communityoutreach@rhoda-foundation.org

About The Rumi Cup: Ottawa’s new hub for cultural exchange, The Rumi Cup celebrates world music and multicultural arts through innovative programming. We bring together artists and audiences to experience transformative performances, workshops, and community events that bridge traditions and generations. Our collective of cultural activists works to preserve sacred arts while reimagining them for contemporary times.

About The Rhoda Sufi Garden: The Rhoda Sufi Garden is a Muslim-led, volunteer-run charity for spiritual & community growth serving Ottawa since 2016 that welcomes all, celebrating connection with the divine through art & knowledge.