'Mushaira' to be held in Mumbai as part of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary celebrations

A "Mushaira" based on the theme of Mahatma Gandhi's teachings will be held in Mumbai Friday as part of a series of such Urdu poetry symposiums being organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao will inaugurate the "Mushaira" in the presence of Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, a statement issued by the ministry said.

The first Urdu poetry symposium in the series was organised in New Delhi on October 6.

Besides spreading the message and principles of Mahatma Gandhi, these programmes would also strengthen the bonds of social harmony and brotherhood, Naqvi was quoted as saying in the statement.

The "Mushaira" will be held at the Rangsharda Auditorium in Bandra West from 4 pm onwards on October 26.

Famous Urdu poets such as Wasim Barelvi, Manzar Bhopali, Mansoor Usmani, Popular Merathi, among others, will take part in the event.

Writer-musician Yogesh will preside over the "Mushaira" and actor-director-producer Annu Kapoor will speak on the purpose of the event.