Storytellers of Wonder

A Fine Evening This: Celebrating Urdu at Jashn-e-Rekhta

—

, , , , , ,

Lyrical poetry set to music, a gathering of fine linguists and leaves floating in the midst. This was the setting of the inauguration ceremony of the two day festival Jashn-e-Rekhta in Delhi yesterday, celebrating “Urdu’s inimitable beauty, its soul-stirring cadence and its lyrical splendor”.

On 14th & 15th March, some of Urdu’s finest poets, authors and artists from India, Pakistan, US, Canada, will come together to bring alive Urdu’s beauty and eloquence through a grand mushaira (poetic symposium), ghazals, qawwalis (musical renditions), dastangoi (a form of storytelling) and panel discussions with renowned authors.

The inauguration ceremony held on Friday, 13th at India International Centre in Delhi, was an opportunity to savor selected poems from Rekhta’s fine online compilation, an endeavor begun by Sanjiv Saraf, who founded Rekhta Foundation, a non-profit that works for the development of Urdu. He is also the curator of the two-day festival.

His introduction was followed by the inimitable musical tones of Rekha Bhardwaj, who charmed the audience with renditions that were chosen specifically for the event and quite different from her movie fare.
Something else that piqued our interest before the ceremony began, was the choicest garbs among some attendees. We spotted richly textured ikat weaves, fine jamawar shawls, phulkaris and glittering jewelry.
The festival aims to draw people towards turning a brief introduction with this language into a life long relationship. And it’s certainly a fine way to start!
– Text & Images by Manika Dhama
Click here for event details.

Leave a comment

● About Jaypore

India wears her beauty in the colorful textiles, breathtaking ornaments & inspiring stories that come alive in the streets. There is magic in the hands that work the loom, in the eyes that pore over a needle, in the brushstrokes that paint life. And yet few things can sum it all up, can capture the essence in a box. At Jaypore, we have begun a fascinating journey, a humble attempt to bring India a little closer to the world. Dedicated to creating a unique interpretation of age-old crafts, we partner with artisanal communities, textile designers, independent artists (and the occasional maverick) to showcase a new, contemporary design language that comes from India and belongs everywhere on the globe. We believe in sharing stories & celebrating how each handmade products can come to represent something much bigger than itself. Travelling to the colorful corners of this fascinating country, we curate unique & exclusive collections that represent India’s finest craft-based designs, so that you can savor the delightful treasures at leisure, with us. Immerse yourself in the beauty of India. Shop for handmade Apparel, Jewelry, Home Furnishing, Home Decor & More.

● Recent Articles

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com