“Teri mehfil ko khuda rakkhe abad tak qaayam”. Rekhta Foundation recently announced the 10th edition of Jashn-e-Rekhta – said to be the world’s largest Urdu language, literature, and cultural festival scheduled for 5-7 December at Baansera Park, New Delhi, hosted in collaboration with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). This edition marks a decade of celebrating Urdu’s timeless beauty, uniting poets, writers, musicians, and cultural icons from across the world in a grand tribute to language and heritage.
This year’s festival features 300+ artists and 35+ sessions across five stages: Mehfil Khana, Dayaar-e-Izhar, Sukhan Zaar, Bazm-e-Khayal, and Aiwan-e-Zaiqa, each offering a distinctive experience of creative expression.
Sanjiv Saraf, founder, Rekhta Foundation, added, “Over the last decade, Jashn-e-Rekhta has become a people’s festival, made possible by the love of Urdu’s admirers worldwide. Every year, it grows not in size alone but in spirit, proving that Urdu continues to live in the hearts of millions.”
What to expect at Jashn-e-Rekhta 2025
Audiences can look forward to performances and sessions that embody Urdu’s lyrical and emotional range:
The 10th edition presents a lineup of performances and sessions that capture Urdu’s lyrical depth and emotional range. Audiences can look forward to Mehakti Khushbu Ka Safar Gulzar Ke Saath, a personal conversation with Gulzar exploring love, loss, and the poetics of life; Rang-e-Mausiqi, a concert by Sukhwinder Singh; and Saaz Aur Sama, featuring Salim-Sulaiman’s signature compositions blending melody and soul. Other highlights include Dil Abhi Bhara Nahin, a tribute to Sahir Ludhianvi with Javed Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan, and Pratibha Singh Baghel; The Orchestral Qawwali Project, the India premiere of Rushil Ranjan and Abi Sampa’s acclaimed ensemble; Rang Aur Noor (Urdu Shairon Ke Filmi Shahkaar), a musical-drama by Huma Khalil celebrating Urdu’s cinematic influence; and the much-awaited Rekhta Mushaira and Rooh-e-Majrooh, bringing together poets and lyricists from across the world.
Beyond the stage, Jashn-e-Rekhta 2025 unfolds as a cultural experience where art, language, and lifestyle meet. Visitors can savor the culinary diversity of Aiwan-e-Zaiqa, browse rare literary gems at the Rekhta Books Bazar, and explore artisanal craftsmanship at the Rekhta Bazaar. The Rekhta Pavilion invites audiences to engage with interactive tools, digital resources, and learning programs designed to make Urdu more accessible. As dusk falls, the Light & Sound Show at Baansera transforms the Yamuna riverfront into a poetic spectacle of light, music, and verse-an immersive finale to each evening’s celebration.
“Jashn-e-Rekhta has, over the past ten years, become a grand celebration of Urdu in all its splendor – from poetry and music to literature and performance. Beyond the festival, it reflects the larger work of the Rekhta Foundation through the year – publishing books, running Rekhta.org , offering learning courses, producing audio-visual content, digitizing Urdu manuscripts, and preserving the Sufi and literary heritage of our country,” said Huma Khalil, trustee and creative director, Rekhta Foundation.
Since its inception in 2015, Jashn-e-Rekhta has evolved from a modest gathering into a global movement, attracting millions of visitors over the years. What began as a humble initiative to revive a language has now become the world’s largest celebration of Urdu’s cultural legacy -an intergenerational bridge connecting art, music, literature, and human emotions.
For more details, click on the link below:
https://jashnerekhta.org/schedule
