je tu rubb nahin te rubb das
Hanjuaan Da Gehna — Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Punjabi Qawwali MP3
Hanjuaan Da Gehna — "the ornament of tears" — is a Punjabi qawwali that does something interesting with the traditional imagery of grief. In most cultural contexts, tears are signs of weakness or failure. In the sufi tradition, they are ornaments — signs of a heart that is alive to the reality of its situation, capable of genuine feeling rather than the numbness that passes for composure. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan understood this framing from both directions: he had the training to explain it theologically and the voice to make it felt.
Nusrat's Recitation Style on This Track
His approach here is characteristic of his Punjabi mehfil style — the kind of performance meant for an intimate gathering rather than a large concert venue. He earned great respect in the qawwali community quickly, and part of that speed came from his ability to adjust register to context. This is not the Nusrat of the Royal Albert Hall live recording, performing for an audience of thousands. This is closer to the courtyard of a shrine, which is where the tradition lived for centuries before it became an internationally distributed art form.
The ensemble support on recordings like this — harmonium, tabla, the supporting chorus responding to the lead — is as important as the lead vocal. Aziz Mian was perhaps more theatrical in ensemble use; Nusrat here trusts the restraint of traditional ensemble structure. Priceless Gems compilations from the same era give useful comparison points.
Listen Online or Download Qawwali MP3
Available on iRulz for free streaming and download. The full Nusrat catalogue on the platform spans dozens of albums across all his major recording periods.
FAQ
What does Hanjuaan Da Gehna mean? "The ornament of tears" — a Punjabi phrase from the sufi poetic tradition in which weeping is reframed as spiritual adornment rather than weakness.
Is this a well-known Nusrat recording? It is more familiar to listeners of traditional Punjabi qawwali than to his international crossover audience, similar to Ghunghat Chuk O Sajana.
What is the mehfil style of performance? A mehfil is a gathering — an intimate performance setting, often at a shrine or in a private home, as opposed to a concert hall. The performance style is more conversational, more responsive to the specific audience present.
You may also enjoy the qawwali of Priceless Gems Vol 1, Aziz Mian, and Priceless Gems Vol 2. Listen to more qawwali of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.