The opening ceremony will formally welcome delegates to AAS-in-Asia 2026 and launch the conference programme.

Mithu Sain & Company: Legacy of the Punjabi Dhol

Mithu Sain, the younger brother of the legendary Goonga Sain, carries forward one of Punjab's most celebrated traditions of dhol playing and dhamal. Rooted in the rich musical heritage of Lahore, the Sain family has played a significant role in preserving and popularising the powerful, spiritual rhythms of the Punjabi dhol. Mithu Sain brings this legacy to the stage with an energetic and deeply immersive performance that connects traditional Sufi rhythms with the vibrant spirit of Punjabi culture.

The Performance: The show will feature Mithu Sain leading a company of skilled dhol players in a high-energy Dhamal, building gradually from traditional dhol rhythms into an exhilarating rhythmic crescendo. The ensemble will create an atmosphere inspired by the devotional and celebratory traditions of Punjab, combining powerful synchronized drumming, dynamic formations, and rhythmic exchanges between the performers. The performance serves as an evocative opening to the cultural program, introducing audiences to the raw energy, spirituality, and musical heritage of Lahore.

Mahnoor Mithu Sain (Mithu’s daughter)

Dhrupad: A Living Tradition of South Asian Classical Music

This performance brings together three distinct musical journeys within the rich and enduring tradition of Dhrupad, one of the oldest surviving forms of South Asian classical music. Featuring Alya Rasheed, Ayesha Nadir Ali, and Talwandi Gharana musicians Ali Hafeez Khan and Labraiz Afzal Khan, the program celebrates the depth, contemplative character, and diverse expressions of this remarkable tradition.

Alya Rasheed, a distinguished Pakistani exponent of Dhrupad, trained in India under the celebrated Gundecha Brothers, leading exponents of the Dagar Vani tradition. Ayesha Nadir Ali, a senior disciple of the historic Talwandi Gharana, is a mathematician, classical vocalist, and cultural researcher whose work brings together musical practice, research, and a longstanding engagement with the classical poetry and music traditions of the region. Ali Hafeez Khan and Labraiz Afzal Khan, direct inheritors of the Talwandi Gharana, carry forward one of Pakistan’s rare surviving lineages of Dhrupad, preserved through generations of oral transmission.

Together, the performers offer an intimate encounter with a living musical tradition that connects Pakistan to the wider cultural heritage of South Asia - a tradition in which melody, rhythm, discipline, and contemplation come together.

The Continuous Dance Medley

The closing ceremony cultural program opens with a seamless journey through some of the region’s most expressive dance traditions. Bhangra, Gidda, Kathak, and Sufi devotional folk dance unfold one after another in a continuous medley, moving from the exuberance of Punjab’s folk traditions to the precision of classical dance and the contemplative movement of Sufi expression. With music flowing uninterrupted between each form, the performance celebrates the diversity, rhythm, and living cultural heritage of South Asia.

Gidda

A vibrant Punjabi folk tradition associated especially with women, Gidda brings together rhythmic clapping, expressive movement, and spirited performance. Traditionally accompanied by boliyan, short folk verses sung in call-and-response, the dance transforms everyday stories, humor, celebration, and community life into an energetic collective performance.

Bhangra

One of Punjab’s most recognizable folk traditions, Bhangra is distinguished by its infectious energy and the driving rhythm of the dhol. Historically associated with harvest celebrations, its vigorous leaps, kicks, expansive arm movements, and rhythmic shoulder work embody the vitality and celebratory spirit of Punjabi culture.

Kathak

Kathak is one of South Asia’s major classical dance traditions, bringing together rhythm, movement, music, and storytelling. Intricate footwork, controlled gestures, expressive facial movement, and rapid turns allow the dancer to move between precise rhythmic passages and moments of graceful narrative expression.

Sufi Devotional Folk

Drawing upon the spiritual traditions associated with Sufism, this performance uses circular and meditative movement to evoke ideas of devotion, transcendence, and the search for spiritual connection. Repeated rotation becomes both movement and metaphor, suggesting continuity, surrender, and a turning away from the self toward a deeper sense of the divine.