The three-day Faiz Festival concluded at the Alhamra Arts Council with a pledge to spread the message of the great poet around the world.
During the three days of the festival, 60 different sessions were held.
Dance performances, panel discussions, lectures, Mushaira and other literary activities marked the festival.
The festival witnessed exemplary turnout of the people. People from different walks of life -- literary figures, showbiz personalities, artists and teachers -- visited Alhamra to pay tribute to the great poet.
One of the most striking features of the festival was the participation of youth.
The formal opening of the Faiz Festival was held a couple of days ago at a press conference addressed by Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s daughters Salima Hashmi and Muneeza Hashmi.
This year delegates from India, USA, UK, Canada and other countries also attended the festival.
Indian poet and writer Javed Akhtar attended the festival after five years. He came with a delegation comprising Indian artists and literary personalities.
A discussion session was held with Javed Akhtar which was moderated by Adeel Hashmi.
A special session was held in which some schoolchildren performed to the poetry of Faiz. The performance was highly appreciated by the audience, and the hall in which the students performed was packed to capacity.
On the third day of the festival tributes were paid to Nayara Noor and Farooq Qaiser. The session was titled “Suno Gup Shup”. Salima Hashmi, Irfan Khosat and Navid Shahzad spoke about their association with these artists and praised their contribution to art.
“Faiz Ka Faiz” was moderated by young and emerging poets of youth, Ali Mazhar, Farah Iqrar and Usman Qurashi. Ali Mazhar elaborated on the vision of Faiz Ahmad Faiz.
He said that the nation should be proud of the fact that it had Faiz Ahmad Faiz whose poetry led the people to take an interest in a progressive ideology.
He said that Faiz Festival had become one of the top literary events of the country which was a testimony to the love the people all over the world had for Faiz.
Ali Mazhar said that people from across the globe had travelled to Lahore to attend this festival.
The concluding day’s sessions were rounded up by a mesmerising Kathak performance by Farah Yasmeen Sheikh.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2023.
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