Performance highlights and selected moments
Horeya Asmat Ali is a pioneering Pakistani percussionist and cultural performer widely recognized as Pakistan’s leading female dhol player. Based in Lahore, she has played an important role in breaking traditional gender barriers in Pakistan’s folk music and performance culture.
Through her powerful dhol performances, Horeya has brought an instrument traditionally associated with male performers into a new space, performing at cultural festivals, weddings, concerts, television programs, shrines and national and international events.
Her journey represents not only musical achievement but also a story of cultural preservation, determination and women's empowerment.
Horeya Asmat began her professional journey with the dhol in 2013, establishing herself as one of the first prominent Pakistani women to pursue dhol playing professionally. Her official biography identifies her as Pakistan's first female dhol player and states that she began playing professionally at the age of 22.
At a time when professional dhol performance was overwhelmingly dominated by men, Horeya chose to make the instrument an important part of her own artistic identity.
Her decision challenged conventional expectations surrounding women and traditional percussion and helped create greater visibility for female dhol players in Pakistan.
The Express Tribune described her as a Lahore-based female dhol player who had broken stereotypes by pursuing dhol playing as a career despite the instrument's traditionally male-dominated environment.
Horeya's relationship with the dhol extends beyond entertainment. Her performances are strongly connected with Punjabi folk culture, Sufi traditions and the musical atmosphere surrounding Pakistani shrines and cultural celebrations.
She has performed at the shrine of Baba Shah Jamal in Lahore, where dhol and dhamal form an important part of the traditional cultural environment. Her performances have helped connect this traditional form of percussion with contemporary audiences and modern stages.
Her own biography describes her work with Sufi naubat at various shrines and celebrations associated with the festivals and urs of saints.
This combination of traditional percussion and contemporary performance has become a defining characteristic of her artistic profile.
Horeya has identified Gunga Sain and Mithu Sain among the figures from whom she learned the art of dhol playing.
Rather than treating the dhol simply as a supporting instrument, she developed it as the central focus of her performances.
Her powerful rhythmic style and stage presence have made her particularly suitable for performances where the energy of Punjabi folk percussion is an important part of the atmosphere.
One of the important aspects of Horeya Asmat's career has been taking Pakistani dhol beyond traditional local settings.
Her official biography states that she represented Pakistan through an international cultural exchange program connected with the 65th anniversary of friendship between Pakistan and another participating country, taking the traditionally Sufi-associated instrument from the shrine environment to an international stage.
Her international cultural work demonstrates how traditional Pakistani percussion can function as a form of cultural diplomacy and artistic representation.
Horeya has also demonstrated leadership on a large scale.
According to her biography, she has led 100 male dhol players during the 23rd March parade, an achievement that illustrates both her musical ability and her position as a pioneering female percussionist.
This is particularly significant given that the professional dhol tradition in Pakistan has historically been dominated by men.
Horeya was featured as a live performer at the Khayaal Festival in Lahore, a cultural event that brought together discussions around social change, arts, literature and women's empowerment.
Her dhol performance was highlighted as one of the musical moments of the festival. Contemporary coverage identified her specifically as Pakistan's first female dhol player.
Her participation was particularly appropriate for an event centered around the theme of challenging boundaries, as her own career has involved challenging established expectations about women and traditional musical instruments.
Horeya has also performed at major public festivals in Lahore.
At Lahore Eat, her dhol performance and accompanying dhamal became one of the highlights of the event. The performance brought traditional Punjabi energy to a large contemporary festival audience.
She was also included in the lineup for the Coke Food Festival in Lahore alongside prominent Pakistani musicians and performers.
These appearances demonstrate the versatility of her performance style, which can work equally well in cultural programs, public festivals and entertainment events.
Horeya has also participated in programs celebrating women's creativity, cultural expression and performance.
At WOW Pakistan 2023, she performed as the dhol player for a Jhoomer performance. Jhoomer is a traditional dance form associated with celebrations and is particularly connected with regions of Punjab and Balochistan.
Her participation illustrates how the dhol can function as an essential part of traditional dance and cultural storytelling rather than simply as a standalone musical instrument.
Horeya was also among the Pakistani musicians featured at FACE Music Mela 2024, a festival celebrating musical diversity and cultural collaboration.
She performed alongside a range of Pakistani musicians as part of a program that brought together local and international musical influences.
Her inclusion in such a diverse musical environment demonstrates the adaptability of traditional Pakistani percussion within contemporary festival programming.
Horeya Asmat's story extends beyond music.
Her career has become closely associated with women's empowerment and breaking gender stereotypes. By entering a profession traditionally dominated by men, she created greater visibility for women interested in traditional percussion.
Her official biography states that she began working voluntarily with UNICEF-related women's and children's rights initiatives during her school years and later continued her advocacy for women's empowerment.
Her work therefore combines three important themes:
Pakistani cultural heritage
Traditional music and percussion
Women's empowerment
Horeya has also worked toward encouraging other women to learn the dhol.
Her official biography states that she established her own institute to train upcoming female dhol players.
This aspect of her career is particularly important because her influence is not limited to her own performances. By teaching the instrument to other women, she is helping create a new generation of female performers within a traditionally male-dominated field.
Horeya Asmat's performances offer something different from a conventional singer or band.
The dhol is a highly energetic percussion instrument, making it particularly effective for events where the audience is expected to participate, dance and celebrate.
Her performances can add a distinctly Punjabi and Pakistani cultural identity to:
Cultural festivals
Corporate events
Weddings
Mehndi functions
Baraat celebrations
Sufi nights
Shrine and Urs events
University festivals
Government functions
National celebrations
Brand activations
Food festivals
International cultural events
Women's empowerment programs
Traditional dance performances
Her ability to combine traditional dhol rhythms with contemporary event environments makes her a distinctive choice for organizers looking for an authentic Pakistani cultural performance.
Horeya Asmat Ali has established a unique position in Pakistan's performing arts landscape by taking the dhol from a traditionally male-dominated environment into the hands of a pioneering female performer.
From performing at Baba Shah Jamal's shrine and cultural festivals in Lahore to appearing at national and international platforms, her career reflects the continuing evolution of Pakistani folk culture.
More importantly, her journey has helped demonstrate that traditional Pakistani instruments can be preserved while also being introduced to new audiences and new generations.
As Pakistan's pioneering female dhol performer, Horeya Asmat Ali represents a combination of music, heritage, cultural identity and women's empowerment. Her work continues to give the traditional dhol a powerful presence on contemporary stages in Pakistan and beyond.
Horeya Asmat Ali is doing shows, events and concerts all over the world. It’s very easy to be approached and Booked for Events with Fankar Online, A Registered company with vast experience of artist facilitation & Event Planning.
Horeya Asmat Ali is well known and Highly engaged Artist.
Charges of artist for event, show or concert changes time to time and depends on few factors like how much traveling is require, how they will travel, Stay and Performance Fee.
