Urdu's finest poets, authors, performers and artists from India and other countries like Pakistan, US and Canada come together to bring alive the lyrical beauty and resonating eloquence of the language.
Eminent names such as Javed Akhtar, Rekha Bhardwaj, Gopi Chand Narang, Zia Mohyeddin, Intizar Hussain, Rakshanda Jalil, Ashok Vajpayee, Musaffar Ali, Nida Fazri, Purshottam Agarwal are set to participate in two-day festival, 'Jashn-e-Rekhta' that begins here March 14.
The festival is organised by Rekhta Foundation, a non profit body, in collaboration with India International Centre (IIC) to bring the glorious past, the beauty, power and versatility of Urdu.
All the genres of the language can be found in one place through live performances, panel discussions, film screenings and interactive sessions, organisers said in a statement.
The language of lovers, idealists and poets will be celebrated through qawwalis, gazal renditions, mushaira and the 16th-century Urdu oral storytelling art form - Dastangoi.
"Marking its debut year the festival aims to bring the quintessential spirit of Urdu - its inclusive ethos and creative richness and it an annual affair," organisers said.
National award winning playback singer Rekha Bhardwaj, is set to open the festival on March 13 with her melodious songs.
Other days will see vocalist Vidya Shah and Danish Hussain pay tribute to Begum Akhtar on her birth centenary. A qawwali performance by Dhruv Sangari and an evening dedicated to ghazals by Radhika Chopra and Hamid Ali Khan are in the line up.
Among the debates lined up at the festival is one titled "Changing Face of Mushaira", which is set to feature Kumar Vishwas of the Aam Aadmi Party with Munawwar Rana, Satyapal Anand and Ravish Kumar.
"The World of Women in Urdu Literature" would see Azra Abbas, Sukrita Paul Kumar and Tarannum Riyaz debate and moderated by Baran Farooqi.
One of the interesting debates include "Internet ke Duniya mein Urdu" moderated by Pervaiz Alam and features Ajmal Kamal, Ali Madeeh Hashmi, Lalit Kumar and Rana Safvi.
"Urdu and Hindi: Convergence and Divergence" would see Ashok Vajpeyi, Kedarnath Singh and Shamim Hanfi in discussion.
Lyricist Javed Akhtar will be in conversation with Sukrita Paul Kumar on the first day which will also see the screening of the film "Garam Hava".
Book exhibitions, calligraphic art and street plays are among the other highlights of the festival.
Organisers say they want to make the festival a "one stop destination" for Urdu admirers.
