The Rekhta Foundation is excited to announce the grand return of Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai, the world’s largest festival dedicated to the Urdu language, literature, and culture. Scheduled for 1st and 2nd February 2025, the festival will be held at the iconic Zabeel Park, Dubai. This two-day cultural extravaganza promises to captivate audiences with an impressive lineup of performances, interactive sessions, and experiences, celebrating the beauty and depth of Urdu’s artistic heritage.
Mr. Sanjiv Saraf Founder, Rekhta Foundation – “Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai 2025 is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of the timeless beauty of Urdu and its incredible ability to connect people across cultures. We are excited to bring this global festival to Zabeel Park, as it comes with many surprises for the lovers of Urdu language. With this second edition, we are setting the stage for Jashn-e-Rekhta to become an annual celebration, ensuring that the legacy of Urdu language and culture continues to flourish for years to come.”
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An Immersive Cultural Experience: Highlights of Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai
Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai 2025 will feature over 50 renowned artists and speakers from India, Pakistan, and UAE. The festival offers a blend of performances and sessions, including:
Programs and Performances:
- Two Stages: Mehfil Khana and Dayaar-E-Izhaar, offering an immersive showcase of Urdu’s cultural and literary beauty.
- 50+ International Artists: Celebrating Urdu through music, conversations, storytelling, and more.
- Celebrity & Literary Panels: Saba Qamar, Imran Abbas, Javed Akhtar, Zehra Nigah, Arfa Sayeda Zehra, Samina Peerzada, and many more.
- Grand Mushaira: A Symposium of Urdu Poetry where contemporary poets from India & Pakistan come together to recite their best poetry.
- First-ever Women’s Sufi International Qawwali Ensemble: A groundbreaking performance celebrating spiritual music.
- Piyush Mishra’s Ballimaaraan: Musical fusion project exploring themes of connection from “Dilli se Lahore tak”
- Shafqat Amanat Ali: Maah-e-Tamaam, a soulful musical evening to end the day on a high note.
- Closing Performance by Ali Sethi: Shaam Dhale, a night of music & romance where Ali Sethi will bring his soulful music to life.
Key Attractions:
- Aiwan-e-Zaiqa Food Festival: A feast of timeless delicacies and vibrant cultural cuisines.
- Rekhta Bazaar: A treasure trove of handicrafts, artistic creations, and literary gems.
- Books Bazaar: A paradise for book lovers, featuring classic and contemporary literary treasures.
- Miliye Mirza Ghalib Se (Meet the Legendary Mirza Ghalib) – Imagine standing face-to-face with the legendary Mirza Ghalib! Miliye Mirza Ghalib Se brings the iconic Urdu poet to life through a life-sized hologram. Onlookers are mesmerized by a captivating monologue that incorporates his most cherished couplets and poignant reflections, giving the impression that Ghalib himself has returned to address the gathering.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnEULj13N6Y
- Dial-e-Poet (Dial a Poet): Dial-e-Poet delivers a dose of nostalgia via an AI and tech-powered rotary phone that lets people connect with legendary poets. Inside a vintage phone booth, a person can dial pre-assigned numbers to listen to a one-sided conversational experience. The voices of celebrated poets like Jaun Elia, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and Ahmed Faraz deliver their timeless thoughts, couplets, and musings, creating a moving and personal interaction.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lQ4QNgZ6Fs
- Rekhta Bioscope (Languages through the Lens): The Rekhta Bioscope is a vibrant, retro-styled installation celebrating the diversity of Indian languages. This colorful bioscope features five buttons, each representing a language Rekhta Foundation works to preserve and promote. Attendees can press a button, peer through one of the four circular windows, and watch a captivating video narrating Rekhta’s journey and contributions to that specific language. It’s an immersive way to explore the Foundation’s cultural impact.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Fr6cULBRLs
- Sher Ka Shikar (Check Your Couplet’s Meter): Powered by Rekhta’s Taqti tool, Sher Ka Shikar invites players to test their poetic mettle. The players request the game manager to type their own Urdu couplet into the system, which checks whether it’s metrically accurate. The couplet is then displayed on a large screen alongside the verdict. To amplify the fun, players use a modified wooden slingshot to metaphorically “fire” their couplet at the screen, creating a visually engaging experience that blends tradition with technology.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0khK7UMRZbw
- Naam-o-Nishan (Trace Your Name in Urdu): For those who want to see their name beautifully crafted in Nastaliq, the most elegant form of Urdu calligraphy – Naam-o-Nishan offers people a hands-on experience in creating their own calligraphic masterpiece. Participants share their names with the station manager, who types them in the Nastaliq script. The name appears on a screen, and players trace it onto paper using calligraphy markers, creating a personalized keepsake.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhfVIjIAbkw
- Sher Ka Tarjuman (Couplet Translator): This interactive game blends education and poetry appreciation by presenting participants with a curated selection of 20 iconic couplets. By hovering a lens over any couplet, they can reveal its lyrical English translation. The uncovered section remains in Roman-Urdu, while the lens reveals the Roman-English translation, enabling a seamless bilingual exploration of poetic beauty.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/M6a2SccC4yQ
Huma Khalil, Trustee and Creative Director, Rekhta Foundation – “Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai 2025 is going to be a vibrant celebration of everything that makes Urdu so special. We’ve put together an incredible lineup of poets, musicians, and performers, each bringing their unique voice to the stage. From poetry that moves the soul to music that captures the heart, we’ve designed an experience that connects people to the beauty of the language in a way that’s fresh and exciting. It’s not just about showcasing talent; it’s about creating an atmosphere where Urdu can be experienced, felt, and celebrated by everyone, no matter where they come from.”
Global Growth and Recognition
After its successful international debut in London in 2023 and its inaugural edition in Dubai in 2024, Jashn-e-Rekhta continues to expand its global footprint. The festival’s influence extends beyond borders, offering a platform for cultural and literary exchange while uniting audiences who share a deep love for Urdu.
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A Stellar Partnership
This year, we are proud to announce RAKBANK ELITE as the Title Sponsor of Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai 2025. Their support underscores the festival’s growing stature in the UAE and beyond, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate Urdu’s timeless charm. RAKBANK ELITE’s association marks a milestone in our journey, further amplifying the festival’s reach and impact.
A Vision for Urdu’s Future
The Rekhta Foundation, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to preserving and promoting regional languages. Through initiatives like Jashn-e-Rekhta, the foundation aspires to create a vibrant ecosystem for Urdu and other languages to thrive.
Its efforts include digital repositories, educational tools, and cultural festivals that connect newer generations with their linguistic heritage. Join us at Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai 2025 for a celebration that bridges tradition and modernity, bringing the soul of Urdu to the heart of Dubai.
Event Details
Dates: 1st & 2nd February 2025
Venue: Zabeel Park, Dubai
Title Sponsor: RAKBANK ELITE
Website: https://jashnerekhta.ae/