Some gatherings aren’t meant to be watched – they’re meant to be felt. Jashn-e-Adab is one such experience, where words sing, music breathes, and culture smiles back at you.
On May 24–25, Gurugram’s The Esplanade Mall wasn’t just a shopping destination. For two unforgettable days, the air shimmered not with commercial chatter but with poetry, classical ragas, Kathak rhythms, and timeless stories – thanks to the Jashn-e-Adab Cultural Caravan 2025.
This wasn’t just a festival. It was a soulful movement – of language, emotion, and shared legacy.
The best part? It was completely free, and open to every heart willing to listen.
Day One 24th May – When Dance Told Ancient Tales
The celebration opened with a performance titled Kathak-Katha – a dance drama by Richa Jain and her ensemble that didn’t just entertain, but evoked. With each step, each anklet bell, they painted divine scenes from Krishna’s life to the soulful melody of Achyutam Keshavam. The audience didn’t just watch – they drifted into myth.
Then followed a deeply engaging literary conversation with noted author Dr. Mahendra Bhishm, in dialogue with Bharti Ji, exploring his much-loved work “Kahani Ek, Kirdar Anek”. It was less a book discussion, more a sociological reflection – characters from his fiction began to resemble people from our own lives.
When Poetry Became the Pulse of the Evening
As the sun dipped, the poetic energy surged. Verses flowed like rivers from the lips of remarkable poets.
Gulzar Wani (IRS), Meenakshi Jijivisha, Ranjan Nigam, Anas Faizi, Imran Rahi, Shakir Dehlvi, Hamza Bilal & Nitin Kabir.
Each poem didn’t merely rhyme – it resonated. There were moments when silence hugged the audience, and others when spontaneous “Wah Wah” applause erupted like a wave. It was a mehfil where emotions were not staged but shared
When Music Became Prayer
And then – the maestros arrived. Padma Bhushan Pandit Sajan Mishra and his son Swaransh Mishra turned the mall into a temple of sound. Their classical renditions didn’t just fill the air – they elevated it. You could feel the audience breathe in unison with the notes.
The evening culminated with a deeply spiritual Sufi performance by Dr. Mamta Joshi and her team. Their rendition of “Mohe Lagi Lagan” was less a song and more an invocation – it wrapped the night in a soulful silence that felt like a collective prayer.
25th May Day Two – Of Ghazals, Laughter, and Literary Fireworks
May 25 began on a serene note with the soulful voice of Shakeel Ahmed, whose ghazals felt like gentle truths whispered directly into the soul. His delivery was intimate, his poetry – disarming.
Next came Rahman Khan, the celebrated comic voice who blended wit with wisdom. His humour wasn’t loud – it was layered. He made people laugh, yes – but he also made them think. And that, perhaps, is true artistry.
The Mushaira That Became a Movement
And then arrived the heart of Jashn-e-Adab – the mushaira, an iconic poetry gathering. What unfolded on stage wasn’t a session – it was history in motion.
Headlined by Prof. Waseem Barelvi, a name synonymous with Urdu grace and poetic depth, the evening featured.Padma Shri Surender Sharma, Farhat Ehsaas, Qaiser Khalid (IPS), Javed Mushairi, Azm Shakiri, Alok Aviral, Dr. Sita Sagar, Dr. Taseer Siddiqui, Naina Kapil (IRS) & Col. Gautam Rajrishi.
Each poet carried a distinct flavour – from satire to sorrow, from love to rebellion. The audience was not merely listening – they were witnessing a heritage come alive.
A Vision Rooted in the Soil, Reaching the Sky
At the heart of this cultural revolution is Kunwar Ranjeet Singh Chauhan, the visionary founder of Jashn-e-Adab and Virasat Foundation. In a bold departure from tradition, he brought poetry and performance out of elite halls and into the public square – into the mall.
“We’re not just organising events; we’re safeguarding and transmitting India’s Ganga-Jamuni culture to the next generation. Jashn-e-Adab is a living bridge – built from poetry, music, language, and love.”
This wasn’t just symbolic. It was essential. He proved that culture isn’t fragile – it’s fearless. It belongs not just in books, but in cafés, metros, street corners, and yes, even malls.
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