Jashn-e-Rekhta to be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, raises ticket prices

Jashn-e-Rekhta 2024 will be hosted at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on December 13, 14, and 15 and will feature Bollywood playback singer Papon, who sang the popular Jiyein Kyun, among other celebrities.

The Urdu language festival this year will also feature a session dedicated to Sahir Ludhianvi, regarded as one of the great film lyricists and poets of the 20th century.

According to Rekhta website, poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar will share stories about his famous songs along with actor and TV host Meiyang Chang and playback singer Jahnvi Shrimankar who will bring these stories to life.

Kailash Kher will be singing in Ek Sufiyana Shaam and Papon will deliver ghazal fusion performance in Shaam E Ghazal.

There will also be the annual Rekhta Mushaira.

“The festival is a celebration of Urdu’s spirit and eloquence. It showcases Urdu poetry, literature, Qawwali, Islamic calligraphy, and more,” say the organisers.

The entry pass for all three days is worth Rs 1400, while the student pass for three days is worth Rs 1200. The daily pass for each of the three days is worth Rs 499.

This is a big escalation in prices from last year when ticket for each of the three days cost Rs 300 while the three-day pass was worth Rs 800.

The festival was free of charge till the 2022 edition before the organisers started charging money since last year.

There are Platinum, Gold, and Silver enclosures too.

The entry for public, which opens at 10 am, will be from Gate No. 1.

It has been learnt that the organisers have also decided to not repeat food stalls from last year. Delhi Food Walks, who arrange the food stalls, have been asked to keep not more than 50 per cent of the food stalls from last year.

The decision has not gone down well with the stall owners.

“A lot of the stalls from last year will be missing. We are told that 50 per cent of the food stalls are not to be repeated. This is absurd, unfair and inexplicable. Most of us did well last year and became popular. How do you explain stalls that did well last year being asked to stay away,” says Zubair Durrani of Khayyam Multicuisine, whose kunafa, Karachi Biryani and barbecue items sold like hotcakes during the 2023 edition.  

The Jashn-e-Rekhta festival was held at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium for the last few years.

Tags : Jashn-e-Rekhta, Urdu, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Javed Akhtar, Papon, Kailash Kher, Sahir Ludhianvi, Poetry