One year on, looking back at Ustad Shujaat Khan’s Ramdan Diaries
Volunteers Collective | Ramdan Diaries — Shujaat Khan’s Memories of Ramadan
Shujaat Husain Khan (born 19 May 1960) is an Indian musician and sitar player of the Imdadkhani gharana. He has recorded over 60 albums and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for his work with the band Ghazal with Iranian musician Kayhan Kalhor. He also sings frequently. His style of sitar playing, known as gayaki ang, aims to imitate the human voice.
Ustad Shujaat Khan has recently tied up with Inroom Records, a Mumbai-based experimental/fusion label and artist management company, to handle his collaborative work. He collaborated in 2014 Persian traditional music album Beyond Any Form.
Just like for millions of Indians, Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year in the Islamic culture for the music pioneer Ustad Shujaat Khan as well.
Islam’s revered Prophet Mohammed preached,
“When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained.”
It is held in the Islamic culture that during this holy month, God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Prophet Mohammed. That was the night known as “The Night of Power” or “Laylat al-Qadr” in Arabic. The fasting in the month of Ramdan is known to strengthen one’s relationship with God.
As different religions and cultures worldwide designate particular parts of an year to the celebrations of their rituals and religious life, Ramadan is a time of joy and celebration for Muslims. People spend time with their loved ones and look back to the teachings of their god in good faith.
At the end of Ramadan, there is a big three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr, or “the festival of breaking the Fast.” It is celebrated with fervour where they eat meals with family and friends and exchange gifts.
