Tawaif, Thumri aur Tehzeeb: An Evening of Music & Conversations around the Courtesans
Schedule
Sat Mar 07 2026 at 05:30 pm to 08:30 pm
UTC+05:30Location
East of Kailash | New Delhi, DL
All through March, as part of our International Women’s Day (8th March) celebrations under the “जहान-ए-ज़न – World of Women” series, we continue to rediscover stories and reclaim experiences that stand as powerful testimonies to the women who shaped Indian society — in the past, and in ways that still inspire us today.
Tawaif, Thumri aur Tehzeeb
A baithak that delves deep into the lives of Women wiped out of history, through their Stories and their Songs!
The Tawaifs were not merely medeival entertainers. They were cultural anchors of their time, shaping Hindustani music, refining language and etiquette, nurturing poetry, influencing courtly aesthetics, and participating in the social and political life of their world. Their mehfils were spaces of intellect, art and agency.
And yet, as India moved towards modernity and independence, much of the culture they helped build was absorbed into the national imagination — while the women themselves were erased.
This evening is an attempt to sit with that contradiction.
Through music, stories and discussions we will celebrate the cultural contributions of the connoisseurs of Indian art forms.
The evening will transition from the historical bazaars of Awadh with live musical renditions of thumri, to the recording legacy of Gauhar Jaan and the role of Tawaifs in India's independence, and then to the fictionalised courtesan in cinema: Pakeezah, Mughal-e-Azam, and the enduring figure of Umrao Jaan.
The baithak will be co-led by a historian and a musician.
Mariyam Siddiqui, guiding historical and cultural conversations, and Dr. Brahmanshi, a PhD in Hindustani Music, leading the musical renderings.
Come, join the baithak.
Let us remember — through story and song.
DAY DATE & TIME: Saturday 7th March 2026 || 5:30 PM Onwards
VENUE: 8ByTheLotus, Top Flr Terrace,
8, Kailash Hills, East of Kailash
Note: The Venue is on 4th floor with no elevator.
CHARGES: Rs.1500/- per person
DISCOUNTS:
Group discounts for groups of 4 and more: 1300/- per person
*We discourage participants below the age of 10 from joining this event.
FOR QUERIES CALL: 9871181775
Note: By attending you agree to being filmed at the venue and content may be used for marketing purposes of Team TBT-DBF
Where is it happening?
East of Kailash, East of Kailash, New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaINR 1300.00 to INR 1500.00
