The three-day festival, Jashn-e-Rekhta, that celebrates Urdu culture through literature, food, art and more is back and the registrations open on Sept 7.
Scheduled to take place from Dec 8 – 10, we’re very torn between what we’re most excited about. Maybe it’s Ustad Rashid Khan’s Ghazal singing or perhaps Nizami Bandhu’s Qawwali (remember Kun Faya Kun?) or maybe, it’s both of these including the thought of all the Kashmiri food we’re going to eat.
Believe in love, peace and poetry? This one’s for you.
Foodies, poets, singers, bookworms, artists, theatre enthusiasts… This is one festival that celebrates the many facets of Urdu as a language and culture and welcomes everyone with open arms.
You can gather your mates for musical performances or an evening of listening to Annu Kapoor and Tanya Wells. If you’re into films, books or have a poet in you that’s itching to take to the stage {yes, aspiring wordsmiths get to perform too}, you too should be filling up the registration form soon as it’s out.
What’s more? Drawing competitions for children and panel discussions for the accompanying adults. And, food and the Rekhta Bazaar for both.
This is one veritable celebration {Jashn as they call it} and it best satiates our hunger for both food and art. Apart from being able to listen to the stalwarts speak, sing and act, you’ll get a glimpse into the beautiful world of regional cinema, mushairas, dastangoi, Qawwali, Urdu handicrafts and Kashmiri and Awadhi delicacies {Old Dilli street food also, in fact}. There’s also gonna be open mic sessions and dance performances.
If you needed anymore validation, hear this: People like Shubha Mudgal, Ustad Rashid Khan, Nizami Bandhu, and over a 100 other writers, poets and artists will be attending the fourth edition.
And finally, you can take home all the new ideas and your name written in Persian from calligraphy experts there as a keepsake.
Entry to this festival is free, in case you were wondering.
When: Dec 8 – 10
Timings: 5pm – 9pm {8th Dec}, 11am – 9.30pm {9th and 10th Dec}
Where: Major Dhyanchand National Stadium
