A large-scale Urdu poetic symposium was held in Jeddah on August 28 to mark India’s 80th Independence Day, drawing nearly 1,500 attendees from across the region. The event, titled “Bharat Utsav: Jashn-e-Azadi – Grand Mushaira: Ek Shaam Watan Ke Naam,” took place at the International Indian School Jeddah and was organized by the UP Forum Jeddah under the auspices of the Consulate General of India in Jeddah.
Participants traveled from several cities, including Madinah, Yanbu, and Rabigh, to join the celebration, which created an atmosphere akin to a “mini India” by bringing together diverse communities to honor the Indian national day through poetry, patriotism, and the shared cultural heritage of Urdu literature. The program featured performances by ten prominent poets from India, including Iqbal Akshar, Jauhar Kanpuri, Professor Nayyar Jalalpuri, Azhar Iqbal, Shabina Adeeb, Popular Meeruthi, Sabz Balrampuri, Sardar Saleem, Professor Sarfaraz Nawaz, and Ibrahim Jaipuri. They were joined by three local poets — Afsar Barabankvi, Nasir Barmi, and Mahtab Qadr. The poetic presentations focused on patriotic themes, tributes to martyrs, and messages of communal harmony. Prayers for India's peace, unity, and progress were also offered during the event.
Consul General of India in Jeddah, Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, attended as the chief guest and remained present throughout the program. Radi Abbas Rizvi of Jubail was honored as the guest of honor. The event was opened with enthusiasm by Dr. Prince Zia, general-secretary of the UP Forum Jeddah, while the Mushaira was conducted by Professor Nayyar Jalalpuri. Mahtab Qadr received a special Lifetime Achievement Award for his extensive contributions to Urdu language and literature in Jeddah.
The success of the event was credited to the collective efforts of the UP Forum Jeddah’s executive committee, which is led by President Noroddin Khan and includes chief patron Saad Anwar, vice patron Ali Imran, vice president Shahzad, general-secretary Prince Zia, and several other members. Support also came from Dr. Abdul Saleem, president of the Telangana International Association.
Funding and sponsorship played a crucial role in making the event possible, with Anwar serving as the Gold Sponsor. Additional financial support was provided by Rafeef Al-Gharbia Contracting Company, Saudi Al-Qaid Co., Famous Trading Company, along with ACC Ltd, DIBNB, Sahar Awad Al-Malki Est., Abeer Medical Group, City Logistics, Shadadah, DILOGUE, and Shaira Global.