'Meer' in Hindi for Urdu lovers; Mushaira Jashn-e-Bahar on Aug 3

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) Eminent Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz and several other distinguished figures of poetry from across the world will participate in this year's Mushaira Jashn-e-Bahar, one of the most eagerly awaited cultural events in the capital.

The occasion will also see the release of a collection of famous poet Meer Taqi Meer's verses 'Meer Darya Hai' in Devnagri script for those lovers of Urdu poetry who are unfamiliar with its script.

The Mushaira, organised by the Jashn-e-Bhara Trust, will be held at the Sirifort auditorium here on August 3.

Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports will be the chief guest.

Dr Pavan K Varma, Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) will release the collection of Meer's verses.

This is the latest publication of the Trust's sister concern Jiya Prakashan.

This year the Jashn-e-Bahar Trust is organising the 'mushaira' in collaboration with the ICCR and with the support of Mawana Sugars Ltd, Sulabh Foundation and Tata Services Ltd, among others.

It brings together around a score of the finest Urdu Poets, from different parts of South Asia and from those parts of the globe where the Indian Diaspora has left its mark.

''The purpose behind the Mushaira is to keep alive the tradition of a poetic dialogue between the poets and their audience and also to contribute to the efforts of taking Urdu to a wider cross-section through filming and audio-visual documentation of the event,'' Trust founder, writer and cultural activist Kamna Prasad said.

The evening will be enriched by the poetry of distinguished names from the sub-continent. From Pakistan -- Dr. Ahmad Faraz, Gulnar Afreen, Farrukh Zahra Gilani, Azm Behzad and Rukhsana Nazi and from India -- Dr. Shehryar, Nida Fazli, Munawwar Rana, Saghar Khayyami, Shiv Kumar Nizam, Dr. Mehdi Jafri, Malika Naseem, Shayar Jamali, Johnny Foster, Noori Parveen, Sunder Malegaonvi, Shikha Srivastava and Iqbal Ashahar.

Sharing the stage with these poets will be two very unusual practitioners of the art of Urdu -- Omar Salem Al-Aidroos from Saudi Arabia and Rahbeen Khorshid from Afganistan.

UNI