Momin Khan
Momin Khan is a rising star of the sarangi. Born into a family of musicians stretching back eight generations, his grandfather Ustad Mehboob Khan was known as Sarangi Samrat (Emperor of Sarangi). He trained under Momin’s father Ustad Moinuddin Khan, a renowned Jaipur vocalist, studying alongside his cousin Sabir. They have spent years working to uphold the family style on their instruments.
Momin grew up surrounded by other musicians in a 42 room haveli (shared townhouse), and recalls first hearing the sarangi as his lori (lullaby). He begged his father to teach him the instrument, and one night at the age of six he stayed up until the early hours, awaiting his father’s return from a concert so he could plead for his lessons to begin.
He took to the instrument immediately, winning state competitions and forming a unique style imbued with the sounds of the sitar, tabla, bansuri, and other instruments. He completed a music degree before the age at which most students even start university, and now spends six to seven hours a day immersed into his practice.
Momin Khan, a skilled tabla virtuoso, first performed at the Darbar Festival in 2019, alongside Sabir Khan and Soumen Nandy, delivering an electrifying performance that captivated the audience. He returned to the Darbar stage in March 2025, this time performing in Leicester with Gurdain Rayatt. Their collaboration brought a fresh intensity to the performance, blending Momin Khan’s intricate tabla rhythms with Gurdain Rayatt’s tabla mastery, creating an exceptional musical experience.
“May goddess Saraswati grant us the highest knowledge, grace, art and creativity”
Darbar believes in the power of Indian classical music to stir, thrill, and inspire. Explore our YouTube channel or subscribe to the Darbar Player to watch extended festival performances, talks, and documentaries in pristine HD and UHD quality.