Indian mushaira brings top poets to Jeddah

The annual mushaira (poetry recitation) of Indian Consulate in Jeddah held at the auditorium of International Indian School late Thursday proved to be a grand success, participants said.
A large number of connoisseurs of humor and satire enjoyed the mushaira.
The event continued for six uninterrupted hours. Attendees expressed enthusiasm as they remained glued to their seats in the packed school auditorium throughout the long event, cheering the poets through a chorus of wah-wahs (appreciations).
Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao was present along with his wife, Asia Hamid Ali Rao, in Mushairah until midnight. Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai and his wife Kausar Kidwai were present till event lasted.
Poets came from different parts of India and most were new to the audience in Jeddah. Yet they regaled hundreds of expats at the mushaira. Poets recited their delicate thoughts in words with such precision that the recitations left the audience impressed at the poet’s description skills.
Agha Sarosh and Naeem Akhtar Burhanpuri were stars of evening. These two poets set the ball rolling with their chaste couplets that left the audience thrilled.
Anchoring plays an important role in success of any poetry recitation gathering. It can’t succeed without a perfect anchor.
Nadeem Farrokh anchored the event with a humor. He introduced the poets through a selection of delectable couplets. Poet Waseem Bareilvi presided over the mushaira.
The young woman poet Rukhsar Balarampuri was the first to begin recitation. She referred to the pain and pathos of Indian women in the current state of affairs, where she touched on the Delhi rape case and the condition of expatriate wives.
Waseem Bareilvi was the last to deliver couplets. Jalees Sherwani, Tabish Mehdi, Iqbal Asshar, Waseem Malik, Nadeem Farrokh, Sikinder Hayat Gadbad, Muhsin Jalgawi, Aslam Badr and Nikhat Amrohi, all arrived from India, and recited their works.
Apart from the auditorium, an open space in the school where large TV screen was arranged with chairs was also packed.