Shahnai during Muharram by Ustad Bismillah Khan

Ustad Bismillah Khan was one of the greatest national and international shehnai player. He brought shehnai to the classical age.

Ustad Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March, 1916 in village Dumraon of Bihar(India). He was the second son of Bachaie Khan and Mitthan. His parents had initially named him Amiruddin, to rhyme with their first-born son Shamshuddin. However, his grandfather, Rasool Bux Khan, the shehnai master of the court of Bhojpur, exclaimed "Bismillah!" ("In the name of Allah!") at the sight of him and thereafter he came to be known by this name.

When he was six, Bismillah Khan moved to Varanasi. He started learning to play the shehnai from his maternal uncle, Ali Baksh.

Bismillah Khan played the shehnai on 15 August 1947 at the Red Fort. He was the first Indian to greet the nation with his musical instrument.

बिस्मिल्लाह खान को भारतीय शास्त्रीय संगीत में उनके योगदान के लिए 1961 में पद्मश्री से सम्मानित किया गया था। यह उनके जीवनकाल में प्राप्त कई पुरस्कारों में से पहला था। 2. भारत रत्न: 2001 में बिस्मिल्लाह खान को भारत रत्न से सम्मानित किया गया, जो भारत का सर्वोच्च नागरिक पुरस्कार है।

His devotion to goddess Saraswati has also figured prominently in the articles written on him. But his ardent love for Imam Hussain has certainly remained unknown to the world at large.Very few people know that he led the  mourning procession on 5th of Muharram to every year from Dalmandi localityof Varanasi to Faatman for decades, reciting Nauha on his especially earmarked Silver Shehnai. Though music is not played during Muharram but the late Shehnai maestro used to observe it by playing the  Nauha(lamentation).

At the age of six, he moved to Varanasi and received training from his uncle, the late Ali Baksh 'Vilayatu', a shehnai player attached to Varanasi's Vishwanath Temple.

After his first performance, he did not look back. He had the privilege of playing live at New Delhi’s Red Fort on the eve of India’s Independence Day and Republic Day. It was former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s decision to have his recital telecast on Doordarshan every year on August 15. Ustad was a true gem. Being Imami he had love for martyrs of Karbala beyond description. Apart from hosting majalis at his residence, he also used to ensure his participation in Muharram processions. On 5th of Muharram, he used to recite Nauha with his Shehnai “Har Soz Saz Ghame Hussain Mein Ro Raha Hai”. He patronized Anjuman Haideri Varanasi and several other institutions dedicated to azadari and propagation of Hussaini Mission. Anjuman e Haideri is considered to be one of the most popular Imami outfits of India.It organizes a series of Muharram ceremonies and processions. Some of the initiatives of Anjuman such as  Juloos e Haideri on the night of 18th Ramadan to commemorate the martyrdom of  Imam Ali from the Masjid of Meer Nade Ali, Juloos e Alam on the night of 5th of Moharram,Juloos e Alam & Taboot on 8th of Moharram from Imambara Khwaja Nabbu Sb. Juloos Gasht – E - Alam on Shabe Ashur and  Juloos e Zuljanah on 10th  Muharram were greatly supported by Khan Sahib.