Some of the most illustrious names in Urdu poetry are set to enchant audiences over two days at two venues in Dubai, starting this Saturday. Dr. Kalim Qaisar, Dr. Majid Deobandi, and Tahir Faraz will work their magic at the annual Indian Republic Day Kavi Sammelan & Mushaira at the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium on Saturday. On the final day of Jashn-e-Rekhta at Zabeel Park on Sunday, renowned figures like Abbas Tabish, Shakeel Azmi, and Manish Shukhla will cast a spell with their soulful ghazals.
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Making its debut in Dubai, Jashn-e-Rekhta, recognised as the world’s largest Urdu literary fest, will kick off at Zabeel Park at 1.30pm on Saturday with a panel discussion featuring acclaimed Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar and Pakistani human rights activist Arfa Sayeda Zehra in conversation with Adeel Hashmi. Simultaneously, the dynamic duo of Samina Peerzada and Usmaan Peerzada will engage in a conversation with Bee Gul.
The first day will witness three book launches, including “Andaze-e Bayan Aur” by Sanjiv Saraf, the founder of Rekhta Foundation, a non-profit organistion dedicated to the preservation of Urdu.
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Highlights of Day 2 include a Sufi concert by Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan and an interactive session featuring Pakistani actress Mahira Khan and veteran Indian actress Shabana Azmi, in conversation with renowned Indian filmmaker and actor Shekhar Kapur. Both these events are scheduled for 2.30pm.
Visitors will be spoiled for choice with two other unmissable events around the same time (4 pm-6 pm) on Day 2. “Dozakh” (Hell), a stage rendition of Ismat Chughtai’s Urdu play, and “Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaau’n” (I will sing a song like this) — a masterpiece project entwining poetry, songs, narration, and music, featuring Javed Akhtar, Meiyang Chang, and Jahnvi Shrimankar with a live band.
The evening’s highlight will be ‘Raqs-e-Naa Tammam,’ portraying the life of the legendary singer Noor Jehan, presented by Shinjini Kulkarni, Danish Iqbal, and their troupe, starting at 7.15pm. A must-not-miss event of the evening is ‘Shab-e Rafta,’ (Night of Departure), an enchanting session of Sufi music featuring Abida Parveen scheduled from 9pm to 11pm.
The pinnacle of the literary fest is the grand international Mushaira (poetic symposiums) titled ‘Gehan aur Dhoop,’ showcasing acclaimed poets.
1. Park entry fee of AED 5 is included in all ticket categories – Show your tickets at the entry gates to get smooth access/entry
2. Unique wrist bands will be issued against each category for multiple entry/exit to the event seating area/s
3. Access to Mehfil Khana and Dayar-e-Izhaar Stages at the festival
4. Access to Aiwan-e-Zaiqa Food bazaar – A curated food experience put together for your to relish Indian, Pakistani, Arabic and other cuisine
5. Access to Rekhta’s Urdu Bazaar, stalls offering various art, handicrafts, merchandise, books etc.
6. Outside Food&Drinks not allowed
How to get there?
By car: Navigate via Sheikh Zayed Road towards Zabeel Park.
By metro: Opt for the Dubai Metro Red Line, and alight at Al Jafiliya Metro Station. Gate 1 is just a few hundred yards away.
By bus: The closest bus station is Al Jafiliya bus station. Buses to here include: 10- Gold Souq Bus Station to Al Qouz Bus Station via Al Jafiliya Bus Station 27- Gold Souq Bus Station to Dubai Mall via Al Jafiliya Bus Station 91A- Gold Souq Bus Station to Jebel Ali Bus Station via Al Jafiliya Bus Station
By taxi: Direct any Dubai taxi to Zabeel Park; its easily recognizable and familiar to most drivers.
Zabeel Park entry Gates:
Gate 1 – Located on the western side of Area A.
Gate 2 – At the northern tip of Area A. At the junction of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street (D88) and Sheikh Rashid Road (D75)
Gate 3 – Located on the northern side of Area A. Just off Sheikh Rashid Road and near the footbridge to Karama.
Facilities available at the venue:
1. The biggest car parking areas are near Gate-1, 2 & 4.
2. Free WiFi throughout the park.
3. Clean & and hygienic sanitation
4. Prayer rooms
Program Schedule
27th January 2024 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
STAGE – DAYAAR-E-IZHAR
URDU TEHZEEB AUR RISHTON KI LAZZAT
JAVED AKHTAR, ARFA SAYEDA ZEHRA
In Conversation With ADEEL HASHMI
(India & Pakistan)
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
STAGE – DAYAAR-E-IZHAR
BOOK LAUNCH: SIYAH HEERY
AUTHOR: SAMEENA NAZIR
(Pakistan)
8:30 PM – 9:00 PM
STAGE – DAYAAR-E-IZHAR
BOOK LAUNCH: ANDAZ-E-BAYAN AUR
AUTHOR: SANJIV SARAF
(India)
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM STAGE – MEHFIL KHANA NAGHMO’N KI MASEEHAII
Sufi Concert
USTAD SHAFQAT ALI KHAN
(Pakistan)
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM STAGE – MEHFIL KHANA DOZAKH
A depiction of Ismat Chughtai’s Urdu play on stage
PRESENTED BY SABA ZAIDI ABDI & TROUPE
(Australia)
6:15 PM – 6:45 PM STAGE – MEHFIL KHANA IFTITAAH
Illumination’- Igniting Urdu’s flame
7:15 PM – 8:30 PM STAGE – MEHFIL KHANA RAQS-E-NAA TAMAAM A depiction of the life of the legendary singer Noor Jehan SHINJINI KULKARNI, DANISH IQBAL & TROUPE
(India)
9:00 PM – 11:00 PM STAGE – MEHFIL KHANA SHAB-E-RAFTA A night of melody and music, where mystic and divine come alive
ABIDA PARVEEN
(Pakistan)
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
STAGE – DAYAAR-E-IZHAR MERA FANN, MERI ZINDAGI
SAMINA PEERZADA & USMAAN PEERZADA
In Conversation With BEE GUL
(Pakistan)
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
STAGE – DAYAAR-E-IZHAR
BOOK LAUNCH: GULISTAN-E-SAADI
EDITED BY: ZARMINAE ANSARI
(Pakistan)
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
STAGE – DAYAAR-E-IZHAR
TISHNAGI
MUSIC ALBUM LAUNCH
MINU BAKSHI
(India)
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
STAGE – MEHFIL KHANA KAHAANI SE KIRDAAR TAK
MAHIRA KHAN, SHABANA AZMI
In Conversation With SHEKHAR KAPUR
(International)
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
STAGE – MEHFIL KHANA MAIN KOI AISA GEET GAAU’N
A masterpiece project with poetry, songs, narration & music
JAVED AKHTAR, MEIYANG CHANG & JAHNVI SHRIMANKAR with LIVE BAN
(India)
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
STAGE – MEHFIL KHANA GEHAN AUR DHOOP
GRAND MUSHAIRA
ANWAR SHAOOR, FARHAT EHSAS, ZEHRA NIGAH, ASIM WASTI, TEHZEEB HAFI, ABBAS TABISH, SHAKEEL AZMI, MANISH SHUKLA, KHALID IRFAN & AMBAREEN HASEEB AMBER
(International)
9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
STAGE – MEHFIL KHANA EK ROOHANI SHAAM
An evening of electrifying divine Sufi music
JAVED ALI
(India)