View source for Mehfil

{{Short description|Formal venue for indoor recreational activities in South Asia}}
{{Italic title}}
{{For|the preaching event or uses of Mehfil|Waz Mahfil|Bazm (disambiguation){{!}}Bazm}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
[[File:Mushaira by courtesans in Hyderabad, India.jpg|thumb|400x400px|A ''Mehil-e-Mushaira'' at Hyderabad, in the presence of the courtiers]]
'''Mehfil''' or '''''mahfil''''' ([[Urdu]]: محفل), alternatively known as '''Bazm''' (Urdu: بزم) is a formal venue where indoor recreational activities such as poetic symposiums ([[mushaira]]), [[Qawwali|singing]], [[Hindustani classical music|music]], and [[Kathak|dance]] are entertained in parts of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. It is part of [[Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb]] culture. 

Historically, ''mehfil''s were presented in the homes or palaces of Muslim royalty or noblemen, who acted as these artists' patrons.<ref>[http://twocircles.net/2016sep11/1473586652.html, 'One last bright spark of Lucknow's glorious tradition'], TwoCircles.net website, Published 11 Sep 2016, Retrieved 10 Jan 2017</ref> Mehfils are also an integral part of the [[Hyderabadi Muslims|Hyderabadi Muslim]] community, and used as a way of unity among them, all around the world.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-03-17 |title=Ghulam Ali to launch 'Ghar Wapsi' music in Delhi, police cover sought |url=https://twocircles.net/2016mar17/1458227872.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250522225718/https://twocircles.net/2016mar17/1458227872.html |archive-date=2025-05-22 |access-date=2026-03-17 |work=TwoCircles.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

Today they are generally held in the homes of especially avid music lovers or the lovers of poetry-recitation gatherings. ''[[Ghazal]]s'' are a common genre performed at ''mehfil''s.  Ghazal recitation gatherings are called 'Mehfil-e-Mushaira' in the [[Urdu language|Urdu]] language.

==Etymology==
The word ''mehfil'' derives from the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word ''mehfil'' ({{langx|ar|محفل}})<!--Is it originally Arabic, or is it from Turkish or Persian before coming into Arabic?-->, which means a (festive) "gathering to entertain (or praise someone)."

''[[Tafsir-ul-Quran Mahfil]]'' is an event where people gather to discuss teaching of [[Quran]] and learn more about [[Islam]].

''[[Na`at|Mehfil-e-Naat]]'' is an Islamic ''mehfil'' (forum) in which people sit and recite poetry in the praise of [[Muhammad]].

''[[Sama (Sufism)|Mehfil-e-Sama]]'' is a gathering held for [[Sufi]] [[devotional music]] such as [[Qawwali]] or prayer and chanting, [[Hadhra]], part of [[Dhikr]] (remembrance of God).

==In popular culture==
Several ''mehfil'' performances may be seen in the [[Satyajit Ray]] film ''[[Jalsaghar]]'' (1958). In recent times, live onstage concert performances are also called 'Mehfil'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=- YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xVF4Eyl2-A |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> "The word 'Mehfil' generally means a place where a music or dance-performance is in progress."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ranade |first=Ashok Damodar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cFwbGi3oBHgC&q=mehfil+music,&pg=PA29 |title=Music Contexts: A Concise Dictionary of Hindustani Music |date=2006 |publisher=Bibliophile South Asia |isbn=978-81-85002-63-7 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Islamic poetry]]
*[[Urdu poetry]]
*[[Mawsim]]
*[[Tweeza]]

== References ==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy58O2-tBSkYvSp3bGyXauQ/featured Pahenji Mehfil]
*[https://mehfil.io/ Mehfil official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040803214041/http://www.boloji.com/culture/001.htm article on Classical Music, Page describing ''mehfil''], author: Deepika Singh, Published 8 May 2000, Retrieved 10 Jan 2017

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[[Category:Indian classical music]]
[[Category:Classical music in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Islam in India]]
[[Category:Islam in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Culture of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Hindustani music terminology]]
[[Category:Desi culture]]
[[Category:Islam in Bangladesh]]


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