'Jashn-e-Bahar' fest hosts poets from Pak, Canada, US, Dubai

Eminent poets from Pakistan, the US, Canada, Dubai and across India are set to recite from choicest modern Urdu poetry at the 18th edition of the Jashn-e-Bahar poetry symposium, beginning here tomorrow.
Poets from the country Wasim Barelvi, Naseem Nikhat, and Nusrat Mehdi among others will share the stage with Amjad Islam Amjad, Abbas Tabish, Rehana Roohi and Pirzada Qasim from Pakistan, Farhat Shahzad from the US, Zamin Jafri from Canada and Zubair Farooq from Dubai.
Modern calligraphy by late painter M F Husain finds place amid cutting edge new media in the set decor reminiscent of the classical age of Urdu poetry.

"We believe that creativity, especially poetry, knows no bounds and has the capability to building bridges beyond borders. Our poets represent this cross-cultural worldview, the universal concerns of modern times and the ever expanding global appeal of Urdu verse," says Kamna Prasad, Founder, Jashn-e-Bahar Trust.
'Jashn-e-Bahar', which claims to be the country's biggest unofficial, non-political mushaira, aims at nurturing Urdu poetry and the syncretic traditions the language stands for.
The trust says it organises the annual mega event with the aim of promoting amity in the subcontinent and nurturing the unique institution of mushaira wherein practitioners of the art of Urdu poetry present compositions directly to audience.

Eminent poet Mansoor Usmani is set to conduct the mushaira at the Delhi Public School here. Organisers said last year the event drew a gathering of over 5,000 people.
Other poets from India include Farhat Ehsas, Popular Meeruthi, Johny Foster, Dipti Mishra and Aalok Srivastava, Johny Foster and Nusrat Mehdi.