Jashn-e-Rekhta, a first of its kind Urdu festival held in India, made its debut in 2015 and attracted over 15000 Urdu lovers from across India and the sub-continent. Over 60 poets, artists, novelists, litterateurs, journalists, lyricists from India and Pakistan participated in the festival, to take the audience on a journey of exploration of Urdu and its many facets.
This year, the festival will let lovers of Urdu, see and experience Urdu and its creative richness in all forms including Dastangoi (story-telling), plays, Mushaira, Qawwali, Ghazal singing, Discussions, Baitbaazi (Urdu poetry competition), Calligraphy workshops, lectures, Exhibitions, Urdu Bazaar, Urdu prose and poetry readings and much more. The second edition comes with a stellar line up and there will be various new elements to be witnessed this time, as compared to last.
Over 75 most distinguished authors, poets, artists, litterateurs, singers and acclaimed personalities from India, Pakistan and the US will attend the festival. Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Mahesh Bhatt, Shabana Azmi, Imtiaz Ali, Tom Alter, Sabri Brothers, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Huma Qureshi, Ashok Vajpeyi, Gopi Chand Narang, Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, Munawwar Rana, Nandita Das, Ustad Rafaqat Ali Khan (Pakistan) Iftikhar Arif (Pakistan), Zehra Nigah (Pakistan),Kanwaljeet Singh, Imran Abbas (Pakistan) among many others.
A special highlight of the festival will be the birth centenary celebration of legendary Urdu writers Ismat Chugtai and Rajinder Singh Bedi, known as the pillars of Urdu fiction. The birth centenary of Akhtar ul Iman - one of the pillars of modern Urdu nazms & dialogue writer will also be celebrated. This festival to showcase Urdu and its richness through various forms like mushaira, qawwali, dastangoi, ghazals, film screenings, dance, plays and much more. This edition will also witness eclectic discussions ranging from contemporary to historic, facts to fiction, films, art and culture.
Javed Akhtar along with Shabana Azmi will perform the much acclaimed 'Kaifi Aur Main'- the magnificent love story of Kaifi and his wife Shaukat. sharing their insights for a discussion on 'Filmon mein Urdu – Kal aur Aaj'. The festival will also witness Mr. Anwar Maqsood who is one of the most admired Pakistani Television hosts and scriptwriter.
JeR will have ‘Baitbazi’, a verbal game and a genre of Urdu poetry played by saying verses of Urdu poems, (similar to Antakshari). Baitbazi has become a lost tradition and through Rekhta, we are trying to revive this ever so interesting expression of Urdu. Another important aspect of this festival is Dastangoi, that's the 16th-century Urdu oral storytelling art form that got revived in 2005 and has been performed in India, Pakistan, and the United States.
As a special focus, there will also be a children’s corner which will have storytelling, dastangoi, audio installations, fun drawing and many other interesting activities aimed at reviving Urdu literature among children. This section will have audio installations, fun drawings and many other interesting activities.
Another attraction at Jashn-e-Rekhta will be Urdu bazaar, which is a special area dedicated to brass artefacts, a variety of ittars (fragrances), film posters and much more. will see a treasure trove for the taste buds — a food festival with Awadhi, Kashmiri, Deccani, Sindhi, Banjaara, Punjabi, Mughlai delicacies including a spread of choicest street foods of Dilli. People will also get to savour Pakistani delicacies. Also, more than 20 varieties of tea will be served at the food court.
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