Rooted in 8th century Persia, Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia. It is a vibrant musical tradition that utilizes the tabla and poetic vocals in Urdu, Punjabi or Persian. Often listeners, and even artists themselves, are transported to a trance-like state of spiritual ecstacy where they feel at one with God. This is generally considered to be the ultimate goal of the practice. .
