Dubai to host world's largest Urdu literary fest

Celebration of the richness of the language, the World’s largest Urdu literary festival, ‘Jashn-e-Rekhta’, is set to be hosted by Dubai this January. As learnt from the social media handles and website of the festival, the two-day event will be held on the last weekend of this month, at Zabeel Park in Dubai, UAE, with a stellar lineup of artists and luminaries from India, Pakistan as well as other regions.

A celebration of the quintessential spirit of the Urdu language, the cultural extravaganza promises two days filled with luminaries from the Urdu literary world, presenting an engaging blend of poetry, talk shows, ghazals (songs), and storytelling.

Commencing at Zabeel Park at 1.30 pm on January 27, the festival kicks off with a thought-provoking panel discussion titled 'Urdu Tehzeeb aur Rishton ki Lazzat Ki Lazzat', (The Delight of Urdu Culture and Relationships.) Renowned Bollywood lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, along with Pakistani human rights activist Arfa Sayeda Zehra, will engage in conversation with Adeel Hasmi.

It will be followed by 'Dozakh' (Hell), a stage rendition of Ismat Chughtai’s Urdu play (2.30pm - 4pm), and a soul-stirring Sufi concert, 'Naghmo'n ki Maseehaii' by Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan (4.30 pm - 6 pm). 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 7.15 pm.

A must-not-miss event of the evening is 'Shab-e Rafta,' (Night of departure) an enchanting session of Sufi music scheduled from 9pm to 11pm.