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he city of Lahore has a close association with life and love for literature. Lahoris love its rich architecture, vibrant art and timeless culture. The Lahori artists’ work reflects the soul of the city. Visitors to the can never forget it for the rest of their lives. It is as if the entire city is a huge museum.
Lahore has witnessed the vicissitudes of many an era and evolved into the city it is today. It has witnessed the birth and growth of some of the greatest writers the country has produced. Poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, who made it his home, is one such person. While he passed away in 1984, Lahoris have continued celebrating his life and his writings, especially his poetry.
The 9th Faiz Festival, which started on February 14 and concluded on February 16, raised many questions and inspired hope. The Alhamra Arts Council building, where the event was held, was beautifully decorated. Huge, multi-coloured strips of cloth adorned its walls. A plethora of posters with heartwarming and nostalgic poetic inscriptions were splashed across the premises.
Every day featured well-planned sessions. I had personally looked forward to attending two of those. One was a dance performance by Sheema Kirmani and the other a book launch. Much to my dismay, although my friend and I arrived on time for Sheema’s performance, we found a long queue in front of us, By the time the queue had inched ahead to the gate Hall 1, not a single seat was left. However, we were fortunate to attend the launch ceremony of Mawakhat, and listen to the insights of Dr Amjad Saqib.
The next magnificent event was the 13th edition of the Lahore Literary Festival, held from February 21 to February 23, at the same venue as the Faiz Festival. During those days, Lahore still had the hint of a chill and the afternoons allowed one to bask in the sun. I remember my friends and I sitting in one of the lawns of Alhamra Arts Council, listening to the soulful melodies performed by some dedicated artists. The harmony between the tabla player’s fingers and the flutist’s tone left many nodding in appreciation. It was one of the afternoons one lives for.
The literary event had many sessions worth attending. My friend and I found ourselves walking under the colorful buntings and streamers on the third day usually the final day. We also took part in the energetic drum circle and attended the launch of Home #It’s Complicated by Saba Karim Azad. The speakers, including novelists Osama Siddique, Awais Khan and Shams Haider, shared their views about Lahore and what the city meant to them. Their insights on the exploration of personal identity were amazing. All of them agreed that Lahore had a strange allure, and those who had spent any part of their lives here often found themselves returning to it to redeem the lives they had left behind.
The 8th edition of the two-day festival, Afkar-i-Taza Think Fest, was also held at the Alhamra Arts Council on January 11 and 12. It took place at the peak of the winter season.
The 8th edition of the two-day Afkar-i-Taza Think Fest was also held at the Alhamra Arts Council on January 11 and 12. It took place at the peak of the winter season. It brought together prominent intellectuals from various fields, including art, culture, policymaking, education and literature. I was particularly impressed by the session on Still the Reluctant Fundamentalist? While Mohsin Hamid focused his conversation on identity crises and the genesis of the South Asian novel, Mira Nair discussed her connection to the fabled city of Lahore and how she had decided to adapt Hamid’s novel into a film. I left the hall with a desire to see Vikram Seth and Mira Nair discuss A Suitable Boy in the not-so-distant future.
Besides these events, I’ve been fortunate to witness two other great festivals in Lahore: the Jashn-i-Baharan and the Mela Chiragan. Mela Baharan, the three-day festival, was held at Delhi Gate from April 4 to April 6. Its defining feature was a floral exhibition. Flowers of all kinds adorned every nook and cranny. Throngs of visitors elbowed their way through the main passageway to Masjid Wazir Khan and the Shahi Hamam. The flower display in front of the Masjid Wazir Khan was truly impressive.
For those living on the outskirts of the city, entering the Delhi Gate is a unique experience. Every time I visit it, it feels as though I have been transported to the time of Nawab Wazir Khan. I feel as if I could come across him at any moment. The great Wazir Khan Mosque and Shahi Hamam are a testament to his great taste in architecture. Here, the air is always filled with the aroma of raw condiments, pickles and tobacco, a throwback to an ancient era.
The traditional Mela Chiraghan was a four-day event held at Shalimar Gardens after many years. This year it was held from April 11 to 14th. The entire Shalimar Garden was decorated with buntings of various hues and colorful strips of cloth hung from its boundary walls. Storytellers and drum beaters entertained crowds with their renditions of folk tales. At night, electric lights were arranged to create the illusion of large diyas (lamps) illuminating the entire venue.
The crowds were uncharacteristically thin on the first day. However, it was a totally different scene on the third day. Even those riding the Orange Line train could tell that the devotees of Shah Hussain had come to attend the mela from all parts of the Punjab. I noticed a striking resemblance between these devotees and the pilgrims on their way to the shrine of St Thomas Becket celebrated in The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer.
Lahore is a city of enlightenment, celebration and vibrant traditions. It has been and remains home to some of the best cultural events in the world. It is rightly said that you haven’t truly lived until you’ve been to Lahore.
The writer is astoryteller. He may be reached atusama.malick183 gmail.com