Across the Northern Areas of Pakistan — Gilgit, Hunza, Chitral — Ismaili communities gather during Navroz for devotional reflection, communal prayers, recitation of Ginans and Qasidas, and spiritual guidance by scholars. These gatherings are deeply rooted in local languages and cultures, including Burushaski, Wakhi, and others, reflecting centuries of living faith.
Even though the words, melodies, and languages differ, the core teachings & essence remain the same across regions and globally today.
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Form
• The form — whether it’s:
• Ginans in Gujarati, Urdu, Burushaski, or Punjabi,
• Qasidas in Persian, Tajik, or local languages,
• Musical and communal gatherings with instruments —
these are cultural expressions shaped by history. Ginans are considered Farmans, carrying spiritual guidance through poetry, music, and devotion.
They reflect:
• The languages of the people being taught
• Local poetic and musical traditions
• Ways to make spiritual teachings meaningful in everyday life
They are not original scripture or traditions from thousands of years ago, but rather a continuation of the essence and form of spiritual rites, prayers, art, and poetry that help the expression of faith and uphold the Qur’an and Farmans for Ismailis.
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For #Ismailis, the heart of the faith are the continuum of Farmans of the Imam, the living bearer of the Light from Allah and the Qur’an, continuing the conveying of guidance from Allah and God’s will, after Prophet Muhammad PBUH ﷺ.
While the essence of these spiritual traditions draws from 3,000+ years of wisdom, their form has evolved — from Ginans and Qasidas to communal prayers and music.
https://youtu.be/7CWfPCbcR_4?si=YL1YnyG38xlrQA99