Hori Khelungi Baba Bullesh Shah – By Daler Mehndi

In the journey towards truth, a seeker undergoes a profound transformation, it’s an ascension . On the path, many feelings and emotions accost him/her, the means of which is love, yearning and devotion. At some point his/her supplication takes form of a celebration. No … it’s not that seeker has come to an end of his/her journey, it’s not a commemoration but the buoyancy of the sheer joy of being on the path is what causes him/her to celebrate.

A sufi way of life is cherishing the human-ness, it’s that act of being human which perceives the Truth, the whole of Reality, one that comes from being one with oneself, by loving, by seeing from one’s inner being. It comes from recognizing, acknowledging ardently in gratitude the Benevolence of God. The seekers incessantly try to sustain the Anand/Bliss of a non ephemeral nature, which they are blessed with as a by product of being in this journey.

Hori Khelungi Keh is such a celebration by one of the undivided India’s most revered philosopher, humanist, sufi poet – Baba Bulleh Shah of the late 16th century, who also titled as “The man of God” , “The Knower of Spiritual Grace”. Transcending cultures, faiths the author uses ‘Hori’ – a spring festival of colors (prominently a Hindu festival) as a metaphor.

The song/kafi is euphoric in its expression. The author pleads with joy, affirms his supplication by advocating, like a command ‘Keh Bismillah’ to himself – thereafter setting an exemplary example for another seeker.

The onset of spring, hori, reference of boond (drop of water) are all metaphors for the ineffable joy being experienced by the Author as though he had caught a glimpse of the Supreme, tasted revelation which has caused more joy, more yearning, more surrender and more love.

Daler Mehndi, The celebrated Pop Star of India harkens his spiritual seeking inner self by composing befitting music and performing with similar gusto the words penned by Baba Bulleh Shah as though a seeker finds wings to his search when in communion with another on a similar path.

The song was performed live first in 2006 at the Humayun’s Tomb, Jahan – e – Khusrau an event organized by the ace film maker Muzaffar Ali of the ‘Umrao Jaan’ fame. The song is in a Qawwali style compete with the signature Daler Mehndi energy, a panache strong enough to engulf any seeker and make a non-believer dance in celebration.