TCS Ruhaniyat Returns to Mumbai, A Grand 25th Edition Celebrating India’s Folk Heritage and Global Mystic Traditions

Mumbai’s cultural calendar is preparing for one of its most anticipated annual events as the 25th edition of TCS Ruhaniyat, Seeking the Divine, returns to the city in November 2025. Now widely recognized as one of India’s most immersive festivals for Sufi, folk, and spiritual music, Ruhaniyat has evolved into a cultural institution over the past quarter century. Its silver jubilee edition carries added meaning, reflecting decades of storytelling, artistic preservation, and the shared human quest for unity and peace.

What began as an intimate attempt to bring traditional, often endangered, music forms into the public consciousness has grown into a global platform that brings together artists, mystics, and performers from across India and regions such as Iran, Pakistan, Africa, and Eastern Europe. The festival’s ability to convene rare voices from diverse geographies has contributed to its standing as a unique cultural bridge.

A Quarter Century of Celebrating India’s Spiritual and Folk Legacy

The 25th edition of Ruhaniyat symbolizes more than a milestone; it captures the festival’s enduring role in preserving traditional art forms that might otherwise fade into obscurity. At a time when India’s cultural landscape is rapidly modernizing, the festival has served as an anchor for folk and mystical traditions that rely heavily on oral transmission and live performance.

Sufi kalam, Baul music, Kabir bhajans, Qawwali, Shabad, tribal chants, and Padhant all find a shared stage here, reinforcing a simple truth: India’s spiritual music has always been bound together by a philosophy of oneness. Ruhaniyat’s curatorial approach, bringing these voices together under an open sky, offers audiences not just performances but a deep emotional encounter with centuries-old wisdom.

The silver jubilee edition promises to continue this legacy with renewed energy, expansive programming, and international collaborations that reflect the festival’s increasing scope.

Event Dates, Venue, and the Signature Mood of the Festival

Ruhaniyat 2025 will be held on Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30 at the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. With performances beginning from 6:00 PM onwards, the open-air amphitheatre will once again serve as the festival’s intimate setting, a space where sound, nature, and sacred poetry merge seamlessly.

Presented in association with Tata Consultancy Services, the festival is designed as a contemplative evening experience. Audiences are invited to slow down, listen deeply, and immerse themselves in interpretations of age-old compositions that capture the human desire for peace, belonging, and transcendence.

A Global Musical Dialogue Through Curated Performances

This year’s programming reflects an expanded global lens, integrating artists who bring distinctly regional expressions into the collective dialogue. Performers from Italy, Africa, and traditional Indian communities will share the stage, showcasing musical idioms that vary widely in structure yet converge in spirit.

On Day 1, audiences can expect a journey through musical histories and geographies: Paakh traditions from Jammu, Kabir’s philosophical verse through Prahlad Singh Tippaniya, Baul interpretations by Parvathy Baul, and the vibrant African production titled Ubuntu, The Spirit of Togetherness. The Italian mystic connect by Eleonora Bianchini adds an international dimension, while the curated production of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam symbolizes the festival’s core message, that the world is a single family.

Day 2 continues this theme, featuring Tukha Gaan and Bhavaiyya traditions, Gujarati mystic poetry through Hemant Chauhan, and Sindhi kalams inspired by Bulleh Shah rendered by Kachra Khan. The African artists return with another immersive Ubuntu performance, while the curated Qawwali ensemble closes the festival with the soaring energy characteristic of Ruhaniyat’s final acts.

Preserving Rare Art Forms in a Modernizing Cultural Landscape

A defining characteristic of Ruhaniyat is its commitment to showcasing rare, often marginal folk traditions that exist outside mainstream visibility. Many of these art forms depend on intergenerational inheritance rather than formal training, making festivals like Ruhaniyat central to their survival.

By bringing lesser-known performers to a metropolitan audience, the festival creates economic opportunities for traditional communities while giving urban listeners access to musical heritage that is seldom heard on conventional stages. This alignment of cultural preservation and audience expansion underscores a thoughtful curatorial philosophy, one that values authenticity over commercialism.

The presence of international artists further reinforces the idea that folk traditions worldwide share a common emotional center, whether it is the Baul philosophy of simplicity, Sufi poetry’s emphasis on divine love, or Africa’s communal rhythms rooted in shared human experience.

The Festival’s Broader Cultural Impact

Over the past 25 years, Ruhaniyat has served as more than a musical celebration; it has become a cultural dialogue between regions, generations, and traditions. Its consistent focus on the themes of unity, harmony, and spiritual seeking resonates strongly in a world marked by fragmentation. As audiences encounter performances rooted in centuries-old wisdom, they experience not just art, but a reaffirmation of universal values.

This cultural impact is particularly significant in a city like Mumbai, one of India’s most diverse and densely connected metropolises. Ruhaniyat’s open-air design and accessible programming create a democratic cultural space, inviting seasoned listeners, newcomers, and young audiences to engage with traditions that expand their sense of history and belonging.

A Soulful Return to Mumbai’s Cultural Stage

As Mumbai prepares to host the 25th edition, TCS Ruhaniyat stands poised to offer another deeply moving experience rooted in folk truth, mystic poetry, and transcendent sound. With its blend of rare art forms, global collaborations, and spiritually charged performances, the festival continues its mission of honouring traditions that speak to the essence of human emotion.

For audiences, the 2025 edition promises an unforgettable journey, one that celebrates India’s artistic past while inspiring a renewed connection to unity, love, and peace.