ISLAMABAD: Prominent Pakistani artistes, poets and authors graced the stage at the ongoing ‘Jashn-e-Rekhta’ festival in Dubai this weekend, aimed at celebrating the Urdu language’s rich literary heritage through cultural fusion.
After winning hearts in London and India, the two-day weaved the essence of the Urdu language, its literature, and culture into the cosmopolitan fabric of the UAE on Jan. 27-28. The event featured soul-stirring ‘ghazals,’ ‘qawwalis,’ ‘dastangoi,’ engaging panel discussions, and a grand ‘mushaira,’ or poetic symposium.
Several Pakistani singers, actors, academics and authors, including Abida Parveen, Arfa Sayeda Zehra and Mahira Khan, were part of the sessions and discussions during the event.
“I am very happy that I have attended Jashn-e-Rekhta for the first time and I hope to come again and again,” Khan said.
“And to get such a platform again and again, where the artiste community from everywhere, who love and appreciate this language, they sit together and discuss about stories, poetry.”
The festival featured a Sufi concert by Shafqat Ali Khan, a discussion on Urdu by Zehra, Adeel Hashmi and Javed Akhtar from India along with the launch of a book, ‘Siyah Heere,’ by Sameena Nazeer on Saturday.
Later in the day, Parveen performed at a night of melody and music.
Pakistan's Abida Perveen performs at the Urdu literary festival, Jashn-e-Rekhta, in Dubai on January 28, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Instagram/@JashneRekhta)
On Sunday, Bee Gul held a session with Pakistani actors, Samina Peerzada and Usman Peerzada, titled as ‘Mera Fann Meri Zindagi,’
It was followed by a discussion, titled ‘Kahaani Se Kirdaar Tak,’ involving Khan, Samina Peerzada and Hashmi, and the launch of book named, Gulistan-e-Saadi, edited by Zarminae Ansari.
Jashn-e-Rekhta is touted to be the world’s largest Urdu-language literary festival organized by the Rekhta Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Urdu literature, in India.
The festival provides a platform for to the lovers of Urdu language to share their poetry and stories in various open forums.
