A mehfil (Hindi: महफिल; Urdu: محفل; sometimes spelled mahfil) is a gathering or evening of courtly entertainment of poetry or concert of Indian classical music (particularly Hindustani classical music) and dance, performed for a small audience in an intimate setting, some with tawaifs and sharab (liquor).

Historically, mehfils were presented in the homes or palaces of muslim royalty or noblemen, who acted as these artists' patrons.^[1]

Today they are generally given in the homes of especially avid music lovers. Ghazals are a common genre performed at mehfils. Such performances are rarer today than in the past.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Popular culture 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Etymology

The word mehfil derives from the Urdu language, which in turn derives from the Arabic word mehfil (Arabic: محفل‎), which means "gathering to entertain (or praise someone)."

Mehfil-e-Naat is an Islamic mehfil (forum) in which people sit and recite poetry in the praise of the Prophet Muhammad.

Mehfil-e-Sama is a gathering for Sufi devotional music such as Qawwali or prayer.

[edit] Popular culture

Several mehfil performances may be seen in the Satyajit Ray film Jalsaghar (1958).

[edit] References

1. ^ Rhythm n Raga: History of Hindustani Music - Developments During the 13th and 14th century hindustani music

[edit] External links

• Article describing the mehfil tradition
• Page describing mehfil

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