South Asian Heritage Month dates changed to "July" from 2026 — Learn more here →
Nasheed + Gazal Mehfil by Message Cultural Group
This mehfil brings timeless nasheeds and short drama sketches with creativity, love and faith.
Message Cultural Group sing, recite and perform gazals from across the ages from composers including Kazi Nazrul Islam and Moniruddin Yusuf.
Formed in 1999 Message Cultural Group had a vision to
July 2026
Playback / Rewind: South Asian Sound & Memory
Through the Lens: Photographs by Anna Miller
September 2026
Calmer Karma Lecture Series
November 2026
International Conference On Cardiology 2026
What are nasheeds? Nasheeds are acapella songs that are religious and moral recitations. The word “nasheed” is Arabic for “chants”. Found in many languages, including English, Malay, Urdu, Bangla and Turkish. They are often upbeat, spiritual, and motivational. Nasheeds are more than songs – they are a powerful tool for conveying messages of faith, love, and unity.
What are gazals? gazals are a light song with Persian origin. They are short poems consisting of rhyming couplets. Bengali Gazals are a form of devotional music and poetry, originating in Bangladesh. They often feature lyrics praising Allah or the Prophet Muhammad and evoke spiritual devotion and emotional connection. Words are more important than the tune. The poem relies upon word play, delighting the audience with the cleverness of the poet.
