Thread by @punnu__khan

"Dama Dam Mast Qalandar - The Trance of the Universe"

Undoubtedly world's most melodious qawwali that has been rendered by hundreds of singers, is said to have been penned by Khusrau, revised by Bulleh Shah, composed in folk traditions but that's not the whole story.

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"Laal Meri Pat" is a heartfelt ode to the 13th century Sufi saint, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar or Syed Usman Maiwandi (1177-1274). He was born in Afghanistan and settled in Sehwan, Sindh. NFP writes, "Shahbaz was a rebel and refused to submit to the dictates of conservative clergy."

Amir Khusrau penned a poem celebrating the life of the saint to which later, Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah added lyrics. A century ago, the poem was on the lips of roving faqirs and was hummed by sufi singers in Sehwan and beyond. Sung in Punjabi, it was well known across Sindh too

It's true that the lyrics and composition of this dhamal has been passed on from generation to generation and but Master Ashiq Hussain Kaliya immortalized it. A gifted composer of 50s, he was forgotten by industry in later decades. In an interview to Dawn News a few

years back, he claimed to have composed this melody for Inayat Hussain Bhatti's film. He stated that updated lyrics were penned by Urdu poet Saghar Siddiqui who came to his house and requested him to compose a melody. Ashiq Hussain Kaliya met a tragic death in 2018 somewhere in

the slums at Bazar-e-Hakiman near Bhatti gate in old Lahore. His son was a keyboard player, due to lack of work, set-up a pakora stall to meet the expenses. He (son) succumbed to heart attack in last days of the composer. Ashiq's funeral was arranged by residents of his mohallah.

Jabroo (1956) features a rendition of "Laal Meri Patt" by Fazal Hussain and Inayat Hussain Bhatti. Only a distorted clip is available on the YouTube at the start of the film. Master Ashiq composed songs for films Akhri Dao, Billo Ji, Azmat e Islam, Kale Log and Waris Shah.

Nevertheless, it was Noor Jehan who took the melody to the highest echelons of fame when it Nazir Ali's composition starring Firdous was featured in film "Dilan De Saude (1971)". Later, hundreds and hundreds of singers across the globe covered this dhamal and earned fame.

Dhamal is a whirling tribute to the saint Shahbaz Qalandar and it's performed in a state of ecstasy to the beat of dhol/nobat. The song has been most favourite among women devotees belonging to working class and rural communities. Dhamal is an artistic way of loosing the self.

'Naubat' is the beat of grand-size drums/naqqāra that is played collectively at Sehwan. Its exact history isn't known but generally believed to have been in practice since the days of Qalandar himself. It is played twice in a 24-hour cycle and is accompanied by vibrant dhamal.

In Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's lightening vocals, this qawwali mesmerized millions across the globe

O Lal meri pat rakhio bala jhoole laalan, Sindri da, Sewan da, sakhi Shahbaz Qalandar

(O the red robed, may I always have your benign protection, Jhulelaal, O Sire of Sindh & Sehwan)

Dama dam mast Qalandar, Ali dam dam de andar

Chaar charaag tere balan hamesha, Panjwa'n mein balan aayi bala jhoole laalan, Sindri da

(Your shrine is always lighted with four lamps, And here I come to light a fifth lamp in your honor. Here I come with fifth O master)

Hind Sind (some also sing Ghanan ghanan) peera teri Naubat vaaje,
Naal vaje ghariyal bala jhoole laalan,
O naal vaje, O naal vaje ghadiyaal bala jhoole laalan

(Let your heroic name ring out in Hind & Sindh (gongs bell loud)
Let the gong ring loud for your glory day and night)

Har dam peera teri khair hove,
Naam-e-ali beda paar laga jhoole laalan, O naam-e-ali,
O naam-e-ali beda paar laga jhoole laalan,
Sindri da, Sewan da, sakhi Shahbaz Qalandar
Dama Dam Mast Qalandar

Here's Coke Studio's version by QB and Akbar Ali which features a different melody

'Dama Dam Mast Qalandar' is equally famous in India and has been featured in a number of Bollywood films. It has been sung by dozens of singers but Mika Singh and Honey Singh's version has a wider fan base.
Hans Raj Hans, Nooran Sisters, Salman Ali & many other stars rendered it.

The ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh can be spotted humming and grooving to this bewitching melody in a private gathering (circa 1997).
This dhamal is an essential part of every gathering that offers dancing opportunity irrespective of the country, ethnicity or language one belongs to

Fanna-Fi-Allah toured Sehwan and recorded one of the modern vibrant renditions of this qawwali.
Notwithstanding the singer, the poetry and the melody pushes one to dance in ecstasy and eventually losing one's identity and merging it with the One.

The trance of universe!
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