Wajid Ali Shah Award for Pt Birju Maharaj at Lucknow Lit Fest

The city of Nawabs will play host to a three-day literature festival from February 13 which will see seminars, sessions, discussions and book launches besides the legendary Pt. Birju Maharaj being conferred the Wajid Ali Shah Award.
Writers like Ravinder Singh, Preeti Shenoy, Salman Khurshid and Rakshanda Jalil will be attending the festival to be held in the heart of the city at Scientific Convention Centre, King George Medical University, the organisers said.
Sessions and discussion on "Relationships - Humanistic Definition, Romantic Interpretation"; "Education as a Tool to Reduce Poverty - Challenges and Roadmap Ahead", "The presence of Literature in Religion and the message of Peace" and "Gender Sensitization - Role of government, Society and Individuals" are some of the major highlights.

This is the third edition of the festival, which is an initiative of Lucknow Society.
The festival for the first time will award the Wajid Ali Shah Award to noted dance guru Birju Maharaj.
"The city of Lucknow has welcomed and supported the literature festival since it began. The literary tradition of our city is known to all and such occasion provides opportunity to connect with new minds every year. We hope that the traditions of discussion, debate will further strengthen," says Shamim A Arzoo, organising secretary of Lucknow Literature festival.
Qawwalis, ghazals and Dastangoi will be some of the performances that will be staged during the festival.