Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain’s kin hold akhand path at Golden Temple

The family of the late tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain held a two-day akhand path in his memory at the Golden Temple complex. The antim ardas was performed on Thursday.

Ustad Fazal Qureshi, younger brother of the tabla maestro, was among those present on the occasion.

He was accompanied by Ustad Kulwinder Singh, a disciple of his father Ustad Allah Rakha Khan. Ustad Gurpreet Singh, a disciple of Qureshi, was also present.

Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity and sharing his late brother’s reverence for the Golden Temple, Qureshi said, “It was extremely emotional moment. The ceremony was beautifully conducted. When the Hukumnama was being read, it felt as if Zakir was with us.”

“Since we belong to the Punjab Gharana and my father Ustad Allah Rakha Khan was rooted here, we all follow it till today,” he added. He shared that he had wanted to organise the ceremony here to honour his brother’s memory.

Hazoori Raagi of the Golden Temple, Bhai Gurdev Singh, performed a kirtan and the ardas at the Baba Gurbaksh Singh Gurdwara inside the complex. He said Ustad Zakir Hussain’s contribution to music is unparalleled. “His legacy is for one and all. His brother, like him, deeply respects the Guru Granth Sahib, which is commendable,” he said.

Ustad Kulwinder Singh said Zakir’s Punjab visit was never complete without paying obeisance at the Golden Temple. “He had visited Amritsar in 2021 and last year as well. He deeply believed in the principles of Sikhism,” he said.