Photo Feature: A Yellow Sea In Winter Rain, The Enduring Spirit Of Sufi Basant In Delhi’s Nizamuddin Dargah

Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro gave birth to one of India’s most beautiful and enduring syncretic traditions: Sufi Basant at Nizamuddin Dargah.

Updated on: 25 January 2026 2:50 pm

Updated on: 25 January 2026 2:50 pm

Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah in Delhi at Basant Panchami

On January 23, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah in Delhi was immersed in a radiant sea of yellow, as Basant Panchami unfolded in its timeless Sufi splendour, despite the persistent rain that drenched the city throughout the day.

Summary of this article

Basant Panchami marks the vibrant arrival of spring in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
The tradition of celebrating Sufi Basant at Nizamuddin Dargah began in the 13th-14th century when Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya was overwhelmed by grief after losing his beloved nephew.
Moved to console his master, Amir Khusro donned yellow garments, gathered the golden blooms, and sang joyful verses like "Sakal ban phool rahi sarson".

More than 700 years ago, a revered Sufi saint sat wrapped in grief, his heart shattered by the sudden loss of his beloved nephew. The world around him had turned gray. Then came his most devoted disciple, who had witnessed something extraordinary along the banks of the Yamuna—women in radiant yellow, dancing and singing to welcome the first breath of spring, their arms filled with golden mustard flowers.

What happened next was nothing short of magic. To console his grieving master, the disciple donned yellow garments, gathered the golden blooms, and sang songs of joy. The songs and the flowers brought a smile to the master's face.

That single, tender act of love and healing between Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro gave birth to one of India’s most beautiful and enduring syncretic traditions: Sufi Basant at Nizamuddin Dargah.

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Devotees arrived in impressive numbers, undeterred, their yellow attire, turbans, scarves, and offerings glowing even brighter against the gray skies.

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Basant Panchami marks the vibrant arrival of spring in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the divine embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, music, arts, and learning.

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Celebrated on the fifth day (Panchami) of the bright fortnight of Magha, it symbolizes renewal, creativity, and the triumph of enlightenment over ignorance, with yellow as the auspicious color representing the blooming mustard fields and the warmth of the season.

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At this historic dargah, however, the festival carries a profound, syncretic Sufi essence that has endured for over 700 years.

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The tradition began in the 13th-14th century when Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya was overwhelmed by grief after losing his beloved nephew.

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His devoted disciple, the poet-musician Amir Khusro, noticed Hindu women near the Yamuna celebrating the onset of spring, dressed in yellow and carrying vibrant mustard flowers.

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Moved to console his master, Khusro donned yellow garments, gathered the golden blooms, and sang joyful verses like "Sakal ban phool rahi sarson" (the mustard fields are in full bloom).

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Presenting the flowers and his poetry, he brought a rare smile to the grieving saint, birthing a celebration of healing, devotion, and cultural harmony that continues to draw people of all faiths.

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On Friday, the dargah's courtyard and lanes transformed into a living tapestry of yellow chadars draped over the tomb, marigold and mustard flowers everywhere, devotees in saffron hues singing and offering prayers.

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Soulful qawwalis echoed Khusro's timeless compositions, filling the air with music and unity amid the rain-soaked basti.

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The weather, brought by a western disturbance, brought welcome freshness after a dry winter and even cleared the air briefly, yet it only heightened the resilient spirit of the gathering.

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This unique observance at Nizamuddin stands as a powerful testament to India's shared heritage where faith boundaries blur in collective joy, devotion, and the simple beauty of spring's renewal.

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A man ties a sacred thread to the dargah's jaali, knotting hopes and blessings in the downpour.

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A devotee bows in quiet reverence before the saint's tomb in timeless devotion.

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Women offer prayers at the shrine.

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A Devotee offering a chadar on the saint's tomb.

Unzila Sheikh is a Delhi-based freelance journalist and a student of Masters in Convergent Journalism at AJK MCRC. She writes about minority, politics and women's issues.

Ahmed Shah is a multimedia journalist and filmmaker who likes telling human stories through images and film.