Poetry unites beyond borders and if it’s written in a language that is itself a confluence of many cultural and linguistic traditions, it carries universal appeal across generations – from connoisseurs to the Gen Next.

Well known among poetry lovers for its annual mushaira  Jashn-e-Bahar for the past two decades, Jashn-e-Bahar Trust constantly involves itself in activities related to nurturing India’s rich literary traditions and works towards developing friendship and amity among people in India and across borders who share a common literary and linguistic heritage.

Headed by Cultural Activist Kamna Prasad, Jashn-e-Bahar Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Urdu and the syncretic cultural traditions it symbolizes.

It’s Scope – to give a platform to the poetics of the day and the sensibilities of the times.

It’s Aim – to promote India’s syncretic, secular values, its Ganga-Jamni culture and its hoary literary traditions.

It’s Mission – to foster amity and friendship, tolerance and acceptance through poetry.

It’s Goal - to nurture a secular, syncretic cultural continuum for our coming generations.

Activities of the Trust

Mushaira Jashn-e-Bahar

Now in its 21st year, mushaira Jashn-e-Bahar is the world’s biggest such international event. Attended by approximately 5,000 lovers of Urdu poetry in New Delhi every year, it has travelled to several places across India.

It is an annual confluence of myriad streams of modern poetry. A galaxy of the best among contemporary Urdu poets from across the world and India gather in New Delhi to regale the audience with myriad shades of poetic sensitivities, countless colours of modern day sensibilities and the everlasting elegance of Urdu verse.

Promoting amity and friendship through poetry, the mushaira celebrates the joy of the season and of creativity as expressed through Urdu Verse.  It is organized with the sole objective of keeping alive and nurturing the traditions of Urdu and the composite culture it represents.

Every year the international mushaira also travels to several cities in the country. The purpose is to keep alive this unique tradition of a poetic dialogue between poets and their audience and also to contribute to the efforts of taking Urdu to a wider cross-section.

Jashn-e-NauBahar

Launched on popular demand in 2018 to mark 20 years of Jashn-e-Bahar, ‘Jashn-e-NauBahar’ is our unique ground-breaking youth initiative aimed at reaching out to Gen Next through their own poetics.

A poetic soiree with a difference and aimed at making a difference, Jashn-e-NauBahar is a dream project for all who believe in preserving and promoting India’s mushtarika tehzeeb.  A multi-lingual forum, it’s designed to provide a democratic platform to young poets. The inaugural programme featured Hindi and Urdu poets.

Other Activities

Dastangoi

Since 2016, Jashn-e-Bahar Trust has also delved into and innovated on the age-old tradition of Dastangoi to present fascinating stories of Urdu poetics. It has organized ‘Qand-e-Farsi wa Tutiyan-e-Hind,’ Dastangoi presenting the journey of Indo-Persian poetry in Iran and India; ‘Dastan-e-Bedil,’ based on the life and poetry of classical doyen Bedil Azimabadi; and ‘Dastan-e-Marsiya: Karbala se Kashi tak,’ on the evolution of Marsiya as a genre of Urdu poetry.

Publication

 In collaboration with its sister organization Jiya Prakashan, the Trust has published collections of classical Urdu poets in Devnagri script with the aim of reaching the best of these literary works to people who have an interest in Urdu but cannot read its script. Jiya Prakashan has published books on Mirza Ghalib, Meer Taqi Meer, Kabir, Daag Dehlavi, Ahmad Faraz , Sahir Ludhianvi,  Akbar Allahabadi, Nazeer Akbarabadi and Jigar Moradabadi.

Documentaries

Meka Films, another sister concern of Jashn-e- Bahar Trust, has made several films on Urdu related subjects. Prominent among these are: ‘Kahkashan’ – a series broadcast on Doordarshan, India’s national broadcaster, comprising bio-pics of eminent Urdu poets; ‘Urdu Hai Jiska Naam’ – a four part documentary on the history of Urdu for the Ministry of External Affairs; ‘Sheharnama – A Living History,’ a series on the history of Delhi for Doordarshan; and the latest ‘Dastan-e-Urdu’– a 13-episode docudrama series for Doordarshan that traces the history of the language from its genesis to modern times.

Web

The Trust is also involved in developing a database on contemporary Urdu poets and runs the website www.jashnebahar.org which has become an effective interface between poets, Urdu lovers and the media. 

The publication of the Jashn-e-Bahar Souvenir 'Lamhe' and the production of the Video and Audio Recordings of the mushaira are annual activities of the Trust.

For more details visit www.jashnebahar.org