Abstract:
Qawwali is the form of art expressed through music which dates back to hundreds of years. The
message of Sufism and mysticism entailed through Qawwali has engaged and infatuated people
from all parts of the world. Due to changing trends, the genre of Qawwali over the years has
transitioned and transformed from a sacred ritual to a commercialized form of entertainment.
The following Research paper aims to study the life of traditional Qawwals hailing from the city
of Rawalpindi through A socio‐cultural perspective. The Qawwals studied in this research paper
were identified through snowball sampling and were located in the areas of Khannapul, Raja
bazaar, and Pirwadhai. The socio cultural perspective in this paper aimed to analyze the
lifestyles of these Qawwals through a case study method which was conducted over a period of
two months. The study also covered the impact of the social aspect of commercialization on the
lives of traditional street Qawwals. Through this study it was found out that these Qawwals
dedicate their lives to master their talents for which they do not have sufficient showcasing
platforms.
