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Poetry evening in Sharjah

SHARJAH - It was a rare evening. It's not every day that UAE gets to host a mushaira (Urdu poetry reading) and poetry lovers turned out in large numbers. Eminent poet, critic and editor of Urdu magazine, Aaindah, from Pakistan and veteran poet Shouq Asari from India hogged the limelight at the event hosted by Aslam Siddiqui at his residence in Sharjah last week.

The glittering evening attracted an unusually large and responsive audience. Prominent poets and writers based in the UAE including Yaqoob Tasawer, Sadia Roshan, Sabhia Saba, Saghir Jafri and Manzoor K Hasrat from Abu Dhabi, Abdul Sattar Shaifta, Anwar Afaqi, Sham Durrani and Hafiz Amir from Al Ain, Saher Romani and Adil Sarwer from Dubai, Mussadaq Hussain Lakhani, Abu Talib Naqvi, Farzana Suhab and Nadeem from Sharjah presented their works.

Almost all genres of Urdu poetry - ghazal, nazm, geet, azaad nazm (free verse) and rib-tickling humorous verse - found representation in the enthralling fair offered at the mushaira. Afaqi, Shaifta and Sham, with their beautiful 'tarannum', were particularly hit with the audience.

Shouq Asari, a noted practitioner of the classical ghazal, was in the spotlight. The audience was given a peek into his light verse too.

The keen interest and appreciation shown by the poetry lovers surprised Wajid Hashmi. He was also impressed with the standard of work shown by the poets based in the UAE.

Rafat Alavi, who was the organiser of the mushaira, lauded the audience especially the large number of women and young girls for attending the event with rare enthusiasm.

Yaqoob Tasawer, a capital-based poet, won the applause for his successful compering. Dr Azahar Zaidi was the chief guest.

• UAE