JEDDAH, 23 December 2002 — The annual Independence Day mushaira (poetry session) of the Consulate General of India was held at the International Indian School-Jeddah auditorium on Sunday. Poets who kept the audience spellbound through their recitations were Makhmour Saeedi of Tonk in Rajasthan, Noor Jahan Sarwat of Delhi, Tahir Faraz of Rampur, Meraj Faizabadi who conducted the proceedings, Tasnim Farooqi, Mouj Rampuri, Rafiq Shadani, Salahuddin Nayyar, Iqbal Ashhar, Rehana Nawab of Calcutta, Fareed Anjum of Hyderabad, Zia Enayiti and Dr. Kaleem Ajiz, who presided. Zia Inayati recited a poem in praise of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, as the program began.
Consul General Syed Akbaruddin presented souvenirs to participating poets. Zikrur Rehman, first secretary at the Embassy of India in Riyadh, detailed the various events hosted by the mission, especially since 1997 when the first mushaira was organized.