When Urdu shayari and ghazals filled the hall with love and harmony in Kathmandu

July 22, Kathmandu: The Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu, in collaboration with Sahitya Academy, Nepal, hosted a literary event titled Aalmi Mushaira; Urdu, Shayari Ki Zubaan in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The poetry symposium aimed to celebrate the literary bonds between Pakistan and Nepal, fostering cultural ties and strengthening bilateral relations.

The event drew Urdu enthusiasts, including politicians, intellectuals, singers, actors,  journalists, social activists, and people from other walks of life to rejoice in the melody and beauty of Urdu poems and songs. Renowned Urdu poets from across South Asia mesmerised the audience and filled the hall with poems/songs of love, peace, harmony, and brotherhood, weaving a tapestry of shared cultural heritage.

Welcoming both the poets and the guests, Abrar H. Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal, described Urdu as a language of peace and harmony, uniting diverse communities through its lyrical beauty. He expressed gratitude to the Sahitya Academy, Nepal, and the poets for their contributions to Urdu literature, emphasising the need for enhanced cooperation between the literary institutions of both nations to promote languages like Urdu and Nepali through literary exchange.

 Acclaimed Nepali film director and writer Prakash Sayami praised the universality and depth of Urdu poetry, noting that the Nepali populace has long cherished Urdu ghazals. He highlighted how legendary Urdu ghazal singers like Mehdi Hasan and Ghulam Ali have also performed Nepali songs, deepening cultural connections.