L to R: Riaz Niazi, Dr Rizwan Ali, Mahboob Zafar, Nuzaira Azam, Dr Sarwat Zehra, Lalarukh Niazi, Dr Vishakha Thaker, DrThaker’s friend, Dr Zafar Iqbal, Khalid Dar, and Asad Hasan
Two groups of the audience
Musikala Group
Dr Uday Kamath
Zauq-e-Sukhan and Musikala Celebrate South Asian Heritage through Poetry, Music, and Cuisine
By Zafar Iqbal, PhD
Zauq-e-Sukhan , in collaboration with Musikala, hosted an enchanting evening of poetry, ghazals, and fine cuisine on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the picturesque Ashburn Farm Association in Ashburn, Virginia. Inspired by the traditional South Asian mehfil (a gathering devoted to poetry and music) and dastarkhān (a shared spread of food), the event brought together poets, musicians, cultural enthusiasts, and community members to celebrate South Asia’s rich artistic heritage.
The evening blended soulful music, original poetry, and culinary delights in a warm, pleasant atmosphere, showing how shared cultural traditions can foster fellowship across generations and backgrounds.
The Musikala Group presented a ghazal program, bringing the lyrical beauty and emotional depth of this cherished South Asian tradition to life. The program featured talented vocalists and instrumentalists, creating an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of traditional musical gatherings. Local poets complemented the performances with recitations of their original work.
Participating poets included Asad Hasan, Mahboob Zafar, Mohammad Akbar, Rizwan Ali, Sarwat Zehra, Vinita Tiwari, and Vishakha Thaker. Special guests included famous tabla player Debu Nayak, Manjula Kumar (former Project Manager at the prestigious Smithsonian Institution), journalist Nuzaira Azam, Riaz Niazi (art collector and owner of the Sadequain Gallery of Chicago), and Mahboob Zafar (a well-known Pakistani poet, writer, and organizer of literary events).
Rizwan Ali, a medical professional, poet, and translator, conducted the program. He has played an active role in promoting literary and musical activities in the United States. He founded the Literary Forum of North America, co-founded the Faiz Cultural Foundation USA (where he serves as president), and established the Roanoke Arts Appreciation Group (RAAG), which has promoted Indian classical music, ghazals, and Bollywood singing in Virginia for two decades.
Musikala , the event’s musical partner, promotes awareness and appreciation of South Asian music and arts throughout the Greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Through concerts, workshops, educational programs, and community gatherings, the organization introduces audiences to the region’s diverse musical traditions while creating opportunities for established and emerging artists.
The evening featured Swati Kanitkar, a Hindustani classical vocalist and president of Musikala, whose musical accomplishments include reaching the semifinals of Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma in 1999. She has remained active in promoting Indian music through concerts and workshops.
Diptanu Das, a classically trained vocalist, brought her versatility across Hindustani classical music, ghazals, Bollywood, Bengali and English songs, and original compositions.
Shreyas Ravi is an accomplished harmonium soloist who has also accompanied numerous distinguished artists. He has received several prestigious awards for his musical talent and contributions. He has also composed background scores for several award-winning Marathi one-act plays.
Award-winning tabla player Mallar Goswami contributed his experience as a soloist and accompanist. His accomplishments include receiving the Government of India’s Junior National Scholarship in Tabla and recognition in several music competitions.
Sarod maestro Soumya Chakraverty, of the Senia Shahjahanpur Gharana, brought the perspective of a musician whose international performances have included collaborations with Carnatic, flamenco, jazz, and Latin artists. The Library of Congress has archived his performance and interview.
Tej Kanitkar, a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, bass, and piano, also contributed to the musical program. A co-founder of Musikala in 2023, he has experience in music arrangement, recording, and performance and has collaborated with artists including Suresh Wadkar, Kavita Paudwal, and Ali Pervez Mehdi. He also oversees Musikala’s event production and administration.
Beyond presenting performances, Musikala seeks to introduce younger generations growing up in the United States to South Asian music. Its educational sessions, open forums, and intimate baithaks and mehfils give audiences opportunities to learn about musical traditions and interact with artists.
The organization sustains its activities through event proceeds and patron donations, with Board members volunteering. Non-sectarian in its approach, Musikala welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds.
An equally memorable highlight was the dinner prepared by Dr Uday Kamath, chef, poet, researcher, and the creative force behind Zauq-e-Sukhan. The meal featured culinary traditions associated with Awadh, Delhi, and Hyderabad, complementing the evening’s literary and musical offerings.
Dr Kamath, who writes Urdu and Hindi poetry under the pen name Maikash, is known for his work in ghazals, nazms, and rubais. An AI researcher and linguist, he has also long contributed to the Washington area’s literary and musical life.
Zauq-e-Sukhan grew out of Dr Kamath’s vision of bringing poetry, music, and cuisine together in a setting reminiscent of the cultural gatherings of historic North Indian cities. By combining artistic performances with a thoughtfully prepared meal, the initiative seeks to revive the spirit of the traditional mehfil and dastarkhān in a contemporary community setting.
The October 9 gathering reflected this vision, giving guests a chance to experience the interconnected traditions of literature, music, and food while enjoying the company of fellow enthusiasts.
Cultural organizations and patrons supported the event, including Advancement and Promotion of Charitable Activities (APCA) and philanthropist and arts patron Gokul Patel.
Established in 1996, APCA promotes charitable activities in art, music, and theater. Over the years, it has helped introduce local audiences to distinguished classical musicians from South Asia and supported numerous cultural initiatives.
Such organizations, along with the dedication of artists, volunteers, and community members, play an important role in keeping traditional art forms accessible and vibrant in the United States.
The October 9 celebration underscored the value of creating cultural spaces where people of different ages and backgrounds can come together through a shared appreciation of artistic expression. By bringing together accomplished musicians, local poets, and culinary traditions, Zauq-e-Sukhan and Musikala offered more than an evening of entertainment: they created an opportunity to strengthen community bonds and maintain a living connection with South Asian heritage.
The gathering reaffirmed the enduring appeal of the mehfil and dastarkhān as expressions of creativity, hospitality, and fellowship, helping ensure that these cherished traditions continue to flourish for future generations.
(Zafar Iqbal, PhD, is a former Professor of Neurology & Neuroscience, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago. He retired as Senior Scientific Review Officer of the US Department of Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC)
