Javed Akhtar Faiz Festival in Lahore: This weekend marks the start of the annual International Faiz Festival in Lahore. For the three-day festival’s many literary, musical, and artistic activities, foreign delegations from nations like the UK, Canada, the USA, and India will be present. The Alhamra Arts Council will host more than 60 events, including panel discussions, lectures, theatrical productions, dance performances, and qawwali.
All events at the Faiz Festival will be free to the general public, in contrast to previous iterations, after criticism of the organisers’ decision to charge for tickets to the famed festival. For the approaching three days of the literary mela, preparations are still being made at the Alhamra Hall, Mall Road, and its neighbouring roadways, including Canal Road.
“Because the last iteration of the event didn’t receive the reception we were hoping for, the majority of performances of the Faiz Festival will be free and available to the public. The ticket prices for some acts didn’t sit well with the audience, “According to a top Punjab Arts Council official, The Express Tribune. “Given that the PSL is also in full gear, the audience in Punjab is currently spoiled for choice. However, we will make every effort to win back the audience who was let down by the previous events.”
The Faiz Foundation has also released the festival’s seventh installment schedule. The event will go on as scheduled from February 17 to February 19. They would organize a formal ceremony on the first day following Friday prayers to commemorate the occasion.
According to the late poet’s daughter, Muneeba Hashmi, “staying true to its beginnings, Faiz Festival is moving forward with the vision and objective of Faiz Ahmad Faiz.” “This year, we’re attempting to strike a balance between the calibre and the importance of the performances. The performances and guests should reflect the current situation, is what we aspire to accomplish.”
Then she continued, “This year, a sizable delegation from India is also taking part in the festival, and we are grateful that Pakistan’s government granted them visas. Javed Akhtar, a well-known poet and lyricist from India, will lead the team. He will both unveil his new book and participate in the mushaira during the festival.”
Muneeba also disclosed that he will be a member of the panel that Adeel Hashmi will moderate. “She said, “Rizwan Wali Muhammad, son of Habib Wali Muhammad, is traveling to Pakistan from the US after 40 years. He will be on the aforementioned panel along with poets and artists from India who are a part of the delegation. He will perform works by his father, Faiz, and himself that he has written while living in the US. A group of qawwals from the Sabri gharana will be performing from the UK. Farah Yasmeen Sheikh, a Kathak dancer, will also attend the Faiz
She went on to say, “Except for the concert by the singer Shafqat Amanat Ali, which will cost Rs 3,000 per ticket, all acts are free. At the event, Shafqat will take center stage and play both his hits and those by his father. He accepted our invitation, and we are very appreciative. Due to their contributions, we are also paying special homage to Amjad Islam Amjad and Zia Mohyeddin Sahab throughout the celebration. In addition, a special tribute to Faiz will be given.” festival.”
Ajoka Theatre will perform its well-known drama, Anhi Mai Da Sufna, on the first day of the festival, and the second day, 30 performances will take place in the Alhamra Arts Council’s auditoriums. According to the itinerary, several well-known local figures, including Dr. Arifa Sayed, Zahra Nigar, Sarmad Sultan Khosat, poet Ali Mazhar, Fazal Jaat, Irfan Khosat, Imran Abas, and Dr. Sugra Sadaf, will attend the popular event.
The Pakistan Literature Festival (PLF), which took place at the Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore during the past weekend, was a literary nirvana for the city’s citizens. The literature festival, a first-of-its-kind historical occasion, featured talks, performances, and interactive installations over three days, as well as an homage to the nation’s illustrious literature, culture, and mythology and discussions of art, poetry, society, and the economy.
The event featured sessions and activities for people of all ages and was open to all artistic mediums. There were live paintings, traditional dance performances, book stalls, cuisine, concerts, and debates on current events, including the economy, climate change, and Lahore’s poor air quality, among other subjects.
During the festival’s closing ceremony, the organizers presented Naheed, Dada, and Nahid Siddiqui with Lifetime Achievement Awards to honor their contributions and creative endeavors.Anwar Maqsood spoke briefly about Pakistani culture, society, and politics to wrap up the programme.