Ghalib's ode to Benaras in dance drama

Mirza Ghalib's ode to the ancient city of Benaras, which he termed as "Kaba of Hindostan" is now being presented in dance form by kathak guru Shovana Narayan.
The dance rendering "Chiragh-e-Dair" forms part of an annual performing arts festival Lalit Arpan Samman organised by Narayan and Jyotsana Suri under the aegis of the former's repertory Asavari Society.
The three-day festival begins here tomorrow.
The original nazm (poem) of Ghalib written in the 19th century Persian was translated by well-known Urdu poet, late Ali Sardar Jafri.
The dance ballet was first staged in 1996 by Shovana Narayan and Vani Jairam with a short reading by Ali Sardar Jafri himself. The performance drew the attention of poets, artists, thinkers and connoisseurs to this little known poem of Ghalib.

A santoor recital by Pandit Satish Vyas accompanied by Pandit Ram Kumar Mishra on the tabla is also scheduled for the opening day.
Day two of the festival has lined up performances of Hindustani vocal by Vidushi Saniya Patankar, and Pandit Tantree Samrat, creator of the Satvik Veena.
The concluding day of the festival would see a Hindustani vocal performance by Pt Omkar Havldar and a Kathak performance by Shailja Nalwade.