Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai: Reviving Urdu’s legacy beyond borders
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Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai is more than just a cultural event; it is a movement that brings the Urdu language and its artistic traditions to a global audience. When it returned in 2025, the festival continued to serve as a meeting ground for poetry, literature, music and food, offering a sensory and intellectual experience that connects people across geographies. More importantly, it highlights the significance of preserving South Asian heritage in an era where digital media has reshaped the way language and culture are consumed and understood.
One of the festival’s central attractions was Mehfil Khana, a space that brings together diverse art forms through live performances and conversations. Sessions here featured notable names from literature, cinema and poetry, offering audiences an opportunity to witness engaging discussions and performances. This year, the stage hosted a grand mushaira or poetic symposium with celebrated poets such as Zehra Nigah, Javed Akhtar, and Abbas Tabish. Performances like ‘Ballimaaraan – The Piyush Mishra Project’ and a Sufi qawwali ensemble aimed to capture the musical essence of Urdu’s poetic traditions.
Similarly, the Dayaar-e-Izhaar stage fostered artistic expression through discussions, storytelling, and musical sessions. A particularly intriguing session this year was a conversation between Arfa Sayeda Zehra and Samina Peerzada on the role of Urdu in films and television. With the increasing influence of streaming platforms, the evolution of Urdu in contemporary storytelling is a conversation worth having. Other sessions reflected the interplay between literature and cinema, underscoring how these forms shape cultural narratives.
The UAE, with its diverse South Asian diaspora, is a fitting location for such a gathering, where audiences from different backgrounds come together to celebrate a language that bridges borders.
Sara Danial
But Jashn-e-Rekhta is not just about words and melodies — it is also about flavors. The Aiwan-e-Zaiqa food festival complements the literary experience by celebrating the culinary traditions tied to Urdu-speaking communities around the world. Food, much like language, carries history, migration stories, and shared traditions. Whether it is the delicate flavors of kebabs or the richness of biryanis, this segment of the festival acknowledged the deep connection between language and gastronomy.
Beyond the spoken and written word, the Rekhta Pavilion adds an interactive element to the festival. Technology has played a role in making languages more accessible, and this space integrates it to create engaging experiences. Activities such as ‘Miliye Mirza Ghalib Se’ and ‘Dial-e-Poet’ provide festivalgoers with an innovative way to interact with Urdu’s literary past. These elements ensure that even those unfamiliar with the language can find ways to engage with it.
For those interested in taking a piece of the festival home, the Rekhta Bazaar offered Urdu merchandise and beautiful handicrafts that reflect the richness of our culture. Meanwhile, the Books Bazaar provided access to literary works that span genres and generations, reinforcing the importance of print culture in a time when digital reading has become dominant.
The presence of global icons at Jashn-e-Rekhta, from poets and musicians to actors and writers, signals the festival’s role in keeping Urdu relevant beyond South Asia. The festival serves as a reminder that Urdu is not confined to any one geography; it is a shared linguistic and cultural identity that continues to evolve. The UAE, with its diverse South Asian diaspora, is a fitting location for such a gathering, where audiences from different backgrounds come together to celebrate a language that bridges borders.
As regional languages increasingly compete with global ones for space in digital and public discourse, festivals like Jashn-e-Rekhta play a crucial role in ensuring their survival. They provide a platform where cultural heritage is not just remembered but also reimagined. Whether through a poetic symposium, a musical performance, a book discussion, or a simple act of tasting a familiar dish, the festival underscores that language is more than just a medium of communication — it is a way of experiencing and preserving identity.
Jashn-e-Rekhta, with its blend of tradition and innovation, stands as a testament to Urdu’s enduring appeal. It is not merely about nostalgia for the past but about creating a space where the language continues to thrive, resonate, and inspire future generations. In a world that often prioritizes linguistic uniformity, events like these remind us of the beauty of diversity and the need to celebrate it.
- Sara Danial is an independent writer from Karachi.
