Jashn-e-Adab festival to feature over 100 artists; will begin on November 23

One of the biggest language and poetry festivals in the Urdu and Hindi genre, Jashn-e-Adab, will kick off its seventh edition in the national capital from November 23.

The three-day festival of arts, culture and language will feature over 100 artists, writers, poets, painters, musicians, and singers from India and beyond.

The festival was started in 2012 as a response to the annual Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) being the only prominent litfest that time, Jashn-e-Adab founder and Urdu poet Kunwar Ranjit Chauhan said at a press conference.

"What makes it different from other Urdu festivals is that it is not just centred around one language. Hindustani and Urdu have always been part of our content," Chauhan told IANS.

"Moreover, it's not a political forum. Our focus is on promoting lost and upcoming names in different genres. Big names are not that important," he added.

The festival, that has seen its previous editions in Mumbai, Lucknow, Raebareli, Roorkee, and Delhi, will give the stage to prominent contributors in different fields.

It will also confer awards upon many.

"Jashn-e-Adab will give its first 'Bekal Utsahi' award to poet Uday Pratap Singh. Apart from this, this year Urdu and Hindi category awards will be given to Farahat Ehsaas and Professor Som Thakur, respectively."

The latter category will also see a monetary accompaniment of Rs 50,000 each. The festival has a total budget of Rs 35-40 lakh rupees, Chauhan said.

Similarly, this year's 'Best Poetry Award' will be given to Irshad Kamil, while Rajendra Dhodapkar has been selected for the Vyangya Shikhar Samman.

"Shan-e-Hindi award will be given to Dr. Maheshwar Tiwari and Pann Anand Mohan has been selected for the award of 'Shan-e Urdu'."

The choice of awardees, Chauhan said, was made by an internal committee comprising organisers and Hindi scholar Ashok Chakradhar.

Classical vocalist Pandit Chunnulal Mishra and Kathak dancer Uma Sharma (both Padma Bhushan awardees), will attend the festival. Sharma will also be awarded in the dance category.

In the inaugural ceremony, there will be a play on Mahatma Gandhi titled "Mohan se Mahatma" by Dr M. Syeed Alam to mark his 150th birth anniversary, the organisers said.

As per Chauhan, the festival's previous editions saw more than 25,000 people attending the various sessions and events and expects more this time.

The entry for the festival is free. Registrations can be made online at www.jashneadab.org or at the spot.

It will run from November 23-25 at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.

(With inputs from agencies.)