LAHORE: This weekend marks the start of the annual International Faiz Festival in Lahore. For the three-day festival’s various literary, musical, and artistic activities, foreign delegates 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 runs, following criticism of the organisers’ decision to charge for tickets to the renowned event. For the upcoming three days of the literary mela, preparations are still being made at the Alhamra Hall, Mall Road, and its neighbouring roads, including Canal Road.
“Because the last iteration of the event didn’t receive the response we were hoping for, the majority of performances of the Faiz Festival will be free and open to the public. The ticket prices for some performances didn’t sit well with the audience, “according to a Punjab Arts Council senior official. “Given that the PSL is also in full swing, the public 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’s schedule. The event will go on as scheduled from February 17 to February 19. On the first day following Friday prayers, a formal ceremony will be held to commemorate the occasion.
According to the late poet’s daughter, Muneeza Hashmi, “staying true to its roots, Faiz Festival is moving forward with the vision and mission 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 hope 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 delegation. He will both launch 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 continued, “Rizwan Wali Muhammad, son of Habib Wali Muhammad, is coming 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 festival.”
She went on to say, “Except for the concert by the singer Shafqat Amanat Ali, which will cost Rs 3,000 per ticket, all performances are free. At the event, Shafqat will take centre stage and perform both his own hits and songs by his father. He accepted our invitation, and we are sincerely appreciative. Due to their contributions, we are also paying special homage to Amjad Islam Amjad and Zia Mohyeddin Sahab during the festival. In addition, a special tribute to Faiz will be given.”
Ajoka Theatre will perform its well-known play, Anhi Mai Da Sufna, on the first day of the festival, and on the second day, 30 performances will take place in the Alhamra Arts Council’s auditoriums. The popular festival will be attended by a number of 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, according to the schedule.
The Pakistan Literature Festival (PLF), which took place at the Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore over the past weekend, was a literary heaven for the city’s citizens. The literature festival, a first-of-its-kind historical occasion, featured sessions, performances, and interactive exhibitions over the course of three days, as well as tributes to the nation’s illustrious literature, culture, and legends 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, food, concerts, and discussions on current events, including the economy, climate change, and Lahore’s poor air quality, among other subjects.
At the festival’s closing ceremony, Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Naheed, Dada, and Nahid Siddiqui in honour of their contributions and creative endeavours. Anwar Maqsood spoke briefly about Pakistani culture, society, and politics to wrap up the event.
