Two-Day 16th Mir Punjabi Festival Held at Punjab Institute
Lahore: The 16th Mir Punjabi Festival was organized at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art, and Culture to commemorate the legendary Punjabi poet and intellectual, Professor Ali Arshad Mir. Writers, artists, poets, intellectuals, and the public gathered to express their love for their mother tongue, Punjabi.
The festival featured sessions that explored various themes related to the Punjabi language and literature, as well as the profound impact of Professor Ali Arshad Mir’s poetry. On the first day, notable figures like film director Altaf Hussain, Professor Dr. Shahbaz Malik, and renowned Punjabi poet Afzal Rajput were celebrated, with discussions about their lives and work. Panelists also addressed issues like government policies on nomadic tribes and farmers.
Other sessions focused on the preservation of minority architecture in Punjab, the rise of extremism, and the promotion of children’s literature in Punjabi. Participants also delved into the public influence of Professor Mir’s poetry, postmodernism, and the use of symbolism in his work. A painting and calligraphy competition was held, showcasing themes of Punjabi culture and Professor Mir’s poetry.
Performances by Bilal and Qawwal Party, Laal Band, Husnain Abbas, and Ahmad Lonewala captivated the audience on the first day.
On the second day, a book launch was held for Rafique Raza, a poet from Chishtian. Discussions covered topics such as Punjabi public movements, women’s creative literature, the lack of Punjabi writers in digital media, and the role of fiction and non-fiction in Punjabi narratives. Participants also explored Punjabi theater, and the work of celebrated Indian Punjabi poet Surjit Patar.
Professor Mir’s symbolic poetry, its global literary significance, and its political and social consciousness were also analyzed. The day featured performances by Wasim Alvi Qawwali Party, singer Ali Imran Shaukat, classical vocalist and poet Ghulam Abbas Farasat, and folk artists like Nadeem Abbas and Ahmad Lonewala.
The festival concluded with a grand Punjabi poetry session, featuring celebrated poets such as Baba Najmi, Rai Nasir, Raja Sadiqullah, Sabir Ali Sabir, Naseer Koi, Veer Sipahi, and Afzal Sahir.
At the festival, the Professor Ali Arshad Mir Award ceremony honored Saeed Bhutta with an award for his book Sanjap. In prose literature, Sabir Ali Sabir was recognized for his travelogue, Tanha Yousufi for his novel, and Naseer Ahmed for his short stories.
In poetry, Arshad Manzoor and Rida Fatima successfully claimed awards. For children’s literature, Aamir Zaheer Bhatti’s book Sanjha Qaida was selected, while Owais Basel’s book was chosen in the category of religious literature.
In the field of translation, Safia Hayat received an award for her outstanding work. Additionally, Ilyas Ghumman was selected for the Sewak Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the promotion and development of the Punjabi language.
In the closing ceremony, participants danced around a bonfire to the beats of traditional drums, warming the chilly December night with Punjabi culture and festivity.
