The holy month of Ramazan is not only confined to fasting and prayers but it is also a month when devotees honour the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and thank Allah for His blessings by expressing themselves eloquently in the form of Naats, Qawwalis, and, of course, Mushairas (poetry recital).
However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, congregations have been restricted and everything more or less is being done online, or virtually, as they say. In this context, the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) organised an online International 'Hamdia Mushaira' (poetic hymns) in which poets of different local languages presented their pieces.
The event was presided over by Haleem Qureshi and moderated by Nasir Ali Syed. Special guests included Dr Khalil Toqar from Turkey, Yashp Tamana from the UK, Raees Warsi from the USA and Qamar Raza Shehzad from Multan.
PAL Chairman Dr Yusuf Khushk presented an introductory note. A number of poets from Pakistan and different parts of the world recited hymns in praise of Almighty Allah.
On the occasion, Dr Khushk said that the organisation of online international Hamdia mushaira in Ramazan was a source of blessing and honour for all. He added that the blessings of Allah descend upon people during the holy month and the poets grabbed this chance to express their devotion, humility, and gratitude through beautifully written poetry.
Dr Khushk said that Urdu poetry had a profound impact on different religions and the gatherings of Naats and Hamds held strong cultural roots.
The chairman said the Hamdia Mushaira was a unique event in which poets of different languages would present their poetry.
Dr Khushk also congratulated and lauded the poets for participating in the event despite the third deadly wave of coronavirus pandemic and said that for them, it was something to be proud of.
Further, Qureshi hailed the PAL for organising the online Mushaira. He said Hamd held a special place in Urdu poetry and each person considered it as a source of salvation in the hereafter.
The special guests in the event commended PAL on the continuation of literary activities despite the pandemic virus.
The participating poets included Javed Manzar, Dr Farhat Abbas, Nasira Zubair, Dr Nazir Tabassum Dr Arshad Mahmood Nashad, Wala Jamal, Tabassum Maleh Abadi, Abid Rashid, Abrar Hussain, Khalid Rauf, Ghafar Shehzad, Rakhshinda Naveed, Hanif Abid, Syeda Farah Shah, Najma Shaheen Khosa, Shazia Akbar, Shah Ghazali, Waheed Qureshi, Shahab Safdar, Amir Abdullah, Hassan Sheikh, Ahmed Irfan, Ejaz Bhatti, Junaid Azar, Munir Qasim, Ashraf Kamal, Shakeel Ahmed Nayab, Shehzad
Meanwhile, in a related development, the PAL will organise an online international Naatia 'Mushairas' for the first time in the holy month of Ramazan on April 23.
The International 'Naatia Mushaira' will be held on Friday at 8pm in which eminent poets, scholars including Tauseef Tabassum (Islamabad), Aslam Ansari (Multan), Sehar Ansari (Karachi), and Iftikhar Arif (Islamabad) will be included in the praesidium, while Ehsan Akbar (Islamabad), Khurshid Rizvi (Lahore), Shahabuddin Saqib (Ali Garh) will be special guests.
Yousuf Khushk will present the keynote address. Ambreen Hussain Amber will be the moderator.
Eminent poets including Jalil Aali, Amjad Islam Amjad, Wajid Amir, Muhammad Izhar ul Haq, Nawaz Dewbandi, Fatima Hassan, Anwar Shahoor, Attique Ahmed Jilani, Yasmeen Hameed, Ali Akbar Bass, Mansoor Usmani and Shahida Hasan will participate in the Mushahira.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2021.
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