Jashn-e-Rekhta
by Rekhta Foundation
Jashn-e-Rekhta is the official Spotify destination for Urdu Poetry, Shayari, Ghazals, Podcasts, Interviews, Conversations, Music, and Cultural Performances from the Rekhta Foundation. Born from the world’s largest festival dedicated to Urdu, this show brings together exclusive audio and video content across poetry, spoken word, music, and storytelling. Follow Jashn-e-Rekhta to listen and watch the finest of Urdu culture, performance, and literary conversations, all in one place.
Episodes
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Qamar Abbas Qamar on Aamad, Loneliness and Finding Poetry | Rekhta Room Season 1 Episode 8
What happens when solitude becomes not loneliness, but a space for poetry? In this episode of Rekhta Room, poet Qamar Abbas Qamar joins Faisal Fehmi for an intimate conversation about language, solitude, memory and the mysterious ways in which a sher arrives. Qamar grew up in Ghosi, Mau…
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The Mind Behind Ashu Mishra’s Heart-Touching Ghazals | Rekhta Room. Season 1 Episode 7
What happens when philosophy finds its way into a ghazal? In Episode 7 of Rekhta Room, poet Ashu Mishra sits down with Faisal Fehmi to talk about his unusual journey from computer science and a gold medal in philosophy to writing Urdu poetry. Ashu traces his love for literature back to his school...
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Ghalib Lived Next Door: Iqbal Ashhar on Urdu, Poetry & AI | Rekhta Room S1E6
What happens when you grow up walking the same streets as Ghalib, Momin and Mir Dard? Poet Iqbal Ashhar joins Faisal Fehmi for a fascinating conversation about growing up in Old Delhi, the beauty of correct Urdu diction, and how a ghazal truly comes to a poet. He breaks down aamad vs aavard,...
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Hina Rizvi on Rekhta Room Season 1 Episode 5 | Growing Up Around Rahat Indori & Waseem Barelvi
Imagine growing up with poets like Rahat Indori and Waseem Barelvi dropping by your home. For Hina Rizvi, that was part of growing up in Lucknow. But her own poetry stayed hidden in private diaries for years. In this episode of Rekhta Room, Hina joins Faisal Fehmi to talk about finding the...
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Yasir Khan Inam on Whether AI is Killing Poetry? | Rekhta Room | Season 1 | Episode 4
Can AI help poets write better, or is it taking the soul out of poetry? In Episode 4 of Rekhta Room, young poet and IT professional Yasir Khan Inam joins Faisal Fehmi to discuss his journey from Bulandshahr to Delhi, the influence of Sahir Ludhianvi, and why behr remains central to Urdu poetry.…
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Azhar Nawaz Wanted to Sing, but Became a Poet | Rekhta Room Season 1 Ep 3
Azhar Nawaz never formally learnt the meter of poetry. He discovered its rhythm by singing ghazals as a boy. In Episode 3 of Rekhta Room Season 1, the young poet joins Faisal Fehmi to revisit his journey from Anjan Shaheed, a village in Azamgarh, to studying English Literature at Jamia Millia...
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From Fast Bowling to Urdu Poetry | Areeb Usmani | Rekhta Room, Season 1, Episode 2
Areeb Usmani was building a career as a professional fast bowler when a serious ligament injury brought everything to an abrupt end. In the silence that followed, he found poetry. In this episode of Rekhta Room, Areeb joins Faisal Fehmi to talk about growing up in Mau and Azamgarh, the literary...
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Varun Anand: Why Heartbreak Did Not Make Him a Poet | Rekhta Room | Season 1 | Episode 1
Does heartbreak really make a poet? For Varun Anand, poetry arrived much earlier. In the first episode of Rekhta Room, hosted by Faisal Fehmi, Varun Anand traces his journey from Yamunanagar and Ludhiana to the world of Urdu poetry. As the eldest son of a family facing financial hardship, he left...
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Zehra Nigah, Javed Akhtar & Tehzeeb Hafi Live | Jashn-e-Rekhta Grand Mushaira
Experience the Dubai Grand Mushaira 2024 from Jashn-e-Rekhta, featuring Javed Akhtar, Zehra Nigah, Tehzeeb Hafi, Shakeel Azmi, Abbas Tabish, Farhat Ehsas, Anwar Shaoor, Khalid Irfan, Asim Wasti, Manish Shukla and more. Presided over by the legendary Zehra Nigah and hosted by Ambreen Haseeb Amber,...
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Javed Akhtar & Pervaiz Alam on the Urdu Script Debate | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Javed Akhtar and Pervaiz Alam come together at Jashn-e-Rekhta for a sharp, necessary conversation on the Urdu script debate, Rasm-ul-Khat, and the relationship between Hindi and Urdu. Javed Akhtar begins with a clear argument. There is no problem with the Urdu script. The real confusion lies in...
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Munawwar Rana: The Poet Who Brought Maa Into the Ghazal | Rekhta Rubaru
In this rare and intimate episode of Rekhta Rubaru, legendary Urdu poet Munawwar Rana sits down with Moid Rasheedi for a deeply personal conversation about identity, Partition, poetry, rebellion and the memories that shaped his voice. Rana reflects on being Munawwar Ali before fame, his childhood...
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Javed Akhtar, Waseem Barelvi & Legends of Urdu Poetry | Shaam-e-Rekhta Mumbai
Experience the magic of a grand live Mushaira from Shaam-e-Rekhta Mumbai, hosted by the Rekhta Foundation. Two of the greatest living legends of Urdu poetry, Javed Akhtar and Waseem Barelvi, come together on one stage for an unforgettable evening of ghazal, shayari and powerful poetic expression....
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Abbas Tabish on Fear, His Mother & the Soul of Urdu Ghazal | Rekhta Rubaru
In this deeply moving episode of Rekhta Rubaru, host Rehman Faris sits down with legendary poet Abbas Tabish, celebrated as one of the most powerful voices of the modern Urdu ghazal. From childhood memories and poverty to the emotional force of a mother’s love, Tabish reflects on the fears…
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The Unheard Jaun Elia: Javed Akhtar Launches Kyun & Shares Rare Memories | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
A book of Jaun Elia's poems no one had read — until now. Javed Akhtar launches Kyun and opens up the poet's hidden world. On Jaun Elia's birth anniversary, Jashn-e-Rekhta hosts the launch of Kyun, a collection of the legendary Urdu poet's previously unpublished work, compiled by Khalid Akhtar...
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Irfan Habib on Urdu, Partition, Akbar, Amir Khusrau & 700 Years of Indian History | Rekhta Rubaru
One historian. Seven centuries of India. One unforgettable conversation. In this episode of Rekhta Rubaru, legendary historian Professor Irfan Habib joins Moid Rasheedi for a sweeping conversation on the making of India’s cultural, political and linguistic history. From the memories of Partition...
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Mahira Khan & Samina Peerzada on Acting, Roles and Humsafar | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Recorded live at Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai, this special conversation brings together Mahira Khan and Samina Peerzada with host Adeel Hashmi for a thoughtful, warm, and revealing session on acting, storytelling, and the journey from script to screen. Titled “Kahaani Se Kirdaar Tak”, the discussion...
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The Real Sharman Joshi | Theatre, Family, Films & Acting Lessons at Rekhta Guftgu
Sharman Joshi joins Rekhta Guftugu for a warm, honest conversation on theatre, cinema, family, craft, and the long journey of becoming an actor. Born into a family deeply connected with Gujarati theatre, Sharman looks back at the influence of his father Arvind Joshi, his uncle Praveen Joshi, and...
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Taapsee Pannu on Being Called Bad Luck and Choosing Her Own Path | Rekhta Guftgu
Taapsee Pannu opens up in a warm, honest and deeply personal conversation on Rekhta Guftugu. From growing up in a middle-class Delhi household to studying engineering, modelling during college, entering South cinema, and eventually becoming one of the most distinct voices in Hindi films, Taapsee...
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Ali Fazal Gets Brutally Honest About Acting, Failure & Success | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Ali Fazal comes to Jashn-e-Rekhta for a warm, candid, and deeply reflective conversation on cinema, Urdu, poetry, ambition, and the stories that shaped him. Opening with a nazm, Ali moves from the grace of Lucknow’s tehzeeb to his childhood memories of films, books, and language. He speaks about...
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Javed Akhtar, Zehra Nigah, Abbas Tabish & More | Best of Jashn-e-Rekhta Mushaira
A grand mushaira from Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai, bringing some of Urdu poetry’s most loved voices together on one stage. This Sunday Special captures the best moments from Dubai Mushaira 2025, where Javed Akhtar, Zehra Nigah, Waseem Barelvi, Abbas Tabish, Khushbir Singh Shaad, Sarosh Asif and Shakeel...
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Piyush Mishra Unfiltered: Gen Z Love, Alcoholism, Art & Music
Piyush Mishra brings his full self to this live Jashn-e-Rekhta session, sharp humour, raw memories, music, poetry, and the kind of honesty that refuses to sound rehearsed. In this conversation, he opens up about love, heartbreak, and why today’s fast-moving Gen Z relationships often miss the...
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Why Javed Akhtar Says Secularism Should Feel Like Oxygen | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Javed Akhtar joins Saif Mahmood for a thoughtful and deeply relevant conversation on Urdu, secularism, language politics, and the cultural history of India. In this live session, they unpack how Hindi and Urdu grew from the same soil, sharing the same streets, emotions, and literary traditions…
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Nawazuddin Siddiqui & Nandita Das on Becoming Manto | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Saadat Hasan Manto was not a writer who allowed anyone to stay comfortable. In this powerful conversation from Jashn-e-Rekhta, filmmaker Nandita Das and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui join RJ Sayema to speak about bringing Manto’s life, mind and contradictions to the screen. Nawazuddin reflects on...
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Saba Qamar & Imran Abbas Speak | Is Urdu Disappearing from Films?..Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
What happens when two of South Asia’s most loved actors speak about Urdu, not as a language of nostalgia, but as a living part of performance, memory, and identity? In this rare conversation from Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai, Saba Qamar and Imran Abbas join Adeel Hashmi for a deeply honest discussion on...
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Javed Akhtar, Waseem Barelvi and More | Love, Truth & Urdu Poetry Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Some nights are not just heard. They are felt. In this Grand Mushaira from the Jashn-e-Rekhta stage, some of India’s most loved poets come together for an unforgettable evening of Urdu poetry, emotion, wit, reflection, and live mehfil energy. From the first sher to the final applause, the...
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Heartbreak, Hope & Shayari: Young Poets at Jashn-e-Rekhta
What happens when a new generation of Urdu poets takes the stage and turns heartbreak, anxiety, love, loneliness, and identity into unforgettable shayari? In this powerful live mushaira from Jashn-e-Rekhta, host Jani Lakhnavi brings together some of the most exciting young voices in contemporary...
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Mir for Pain, Iqbal for Hope, Ghalib for the Present | Swami Oma The Akk at Jashn-e-Rekhta
In this live talk at Jashn-e-Rekhta, Swami Oma The Akk speaks of Urdu not as a language alone, but as a maashooq. Something intimate, fragrant, elusive, and deeply felt. Through the poetry of Meer, Ghalib, and Iqbal, he opens three ways of seeing life. Meer becomes the voice of loss, surrender,...
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Dr. Arfa Zehra Speaks | Urdu Is Not Just a Language, It’s a Civilization
What if Urdu is not just a language, but an entire way of seeing the world? In this live conversation, Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra reveals why Urdu carries far more than words. It carries adaab, memory, poetry, emotion, and a complete civilizational ethos. Joined by Saif Mahmood and Moin Mir at...
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Meer vs Ghalib | Feeling, Thought, and Urdu Poetry at Jashn-e-Rekhta
In this episode at Jashn-e-Rekhta, we explore the timeless poetry and lasting legacy of Meer Taqi Meer, the poet many revere as Khuda-e-Sukhan. Through an engaging conversation featuring Farhat Ehsas, Shafey Kidwai, and Sarfaraz Khalid, this session looks at how Meer shaped the emotional language...
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4 Signs of Bad Poetry by Dr. Salman Akhtar | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Can you really tell the difference between great poetry and bad poetry? In this fascinating live session from Jashn-e-Rekhta, Dr. Salman Akhtar shares 4 signs of bad poetry and explains why some verses may sound poetic, but still fail to leave a mark. With humour, honesty, and deep literary...
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Ali Fazal gets Real: From Lucknow to Mirzapur | Rekhta Guftgu
In this episode of Rekhta Guftgu, actor Ali Fazal opens up like never before. From being born in Delhi and growing up in Lucknow, to discovering theatre at school, chasing independence in college, and finding his way through films like 3 Idiots, Fukrey, Victoria & Abdul, and Mirzapur, this is a...
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Jaideep Ahlawat Speaks Rejection, Patience, and the First Break | Rekhta Guftgu
In this episode of Rekhta Guftgu, Syed Mohammad Irfan sits down with Jaideep Ahlawat for an honest, deeply reflective conversation on rejection, patience, and the long road to recognition. Jaideep looks back on his childhood in Kharkada near Rohtak, growing up in a family of teachers, dreaming...
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Imtiaz Ali on Failure, Theatre, and Finding His Voice | Rekhta Guftgu
In this episode of Rekhta Guftgu, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali opens up about the failures, doubts, and turning points that shaped his journey long before Bollywood success found him. In a deeply honest conversation with Irfan, he reflects on failing ninth grade, discovering theatre at Hindu College,...
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Gopichand Narang on Mir, Ghalib, Faiz and Life | Rekhta Guftgu
In this episode of Rekhta Guftgu, Prof. Gopichand Narang, one of the most influential Urdu critics, scholars and linguists of our time, reflects on a life shaped by memory, migration and literature. He speaks about his childhood in Balochistan and Punjab, the experience of Partition, his early...
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Raj Babbar and Zeeshan Ayyub on Urdu, Hindustani Identity, Cinema | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
In this episode, Raj Babbar and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub join Ambreen Khan for a warm, deeply personal conversation on Urdu, Hindustani identity, cinema, theatre, and the shared cultural memory of India. Raj Babbar looks back at the home he grew up in, where the Urdu newspaper Milaap arrived...
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Dia Mirza on Urdu, Hyderabad and Environmental Advocacy | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
In this warm and thoughtful Jashn-e-Rekhta conversation, Dia Mirza joins Atika Farooqui for a deeply personal exchange on memory, language, identity, and purpose. From growing up in Hyderabad in a home shaped by Urdu poetry and literature, to finding her own voice in public life, Dia reflects on...
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Manoj Bajpayee on Acting, Aligarh, OTT and Poetry | Rekhta Guftgu
In this Guftgu episode, Manoj Bajpayee speaks with unusual honesty about cinema, craft, and the kind of inner life that keeps an actor growing. He reflects on how the pandemic changed theatres, streaming, and the way people now live with stories, fear, and habit. He believes cinema will return…
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Adarsh Gourav: From Music to My Name Is Khan to The White Tiger
In this episode of Guftugu, Adarsh Gourav opens up about the road from My Name Is Khan to The White Tiger, the performance that brought him global attention and award nominations. He talks about growing up with music in Jamshedpur, moving to Mumbai, discovering acting later than expected, and...
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Shilpa Rao Gets Real About Music, Discipline and Stardom | Rekhta Guftgu at Jashn-e-Rekhta
In this episode, singer Shilpa Rao reflects on the journey that shaped her, from growing up in Jamshedpur to building a career in Bollywood and independent music. Before becoming one of the most loved voices in Indian music, she worked as a jingle singer, and slowly found her space through...
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In Remembrance of Tahir Faraz | Live Shayari from Jashn-e-Rekhta
A voice like Tahir Faraz does not fade. It lingers. In this special Jashn-e-Rekhta episode, experience the live shayari of Tahir Faraz through nazms and verses that still feel achingly alive. From “Koi Aansu Jo Kagaz Bhigo Jayega” to “Ek Misra Hu Main, Ek Misra Ho Tum”, every line carries the...
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Zehra Nigah recites Jungle Ka Qanoon and a Ghazal of Unease | Live at Jashn-e-Rekhta
In this striking Jashn-e-Rekhta segment, Zehra Nigah is introduced as the presiding voice of the mushaira and delivers a reading that feels both lyrical and razor-sharp. She begins with her nazm “Jungle Ka Qanoon”, a poem that builds with quiet control before landing its political force. She then...
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Shweta Tripathi on Mirzapur Fame, Acting Craft and Staying Grounded | Guftugu at Jashn-e-Rekhta
In this episode of Guftugu, Shweta Tripathi Sharma speaks with honesty and warmth about the choices that shaped her journey as an actor. From her early creative instincts to becoming a widely loved face through standout performances, she reflects on ambition, vulnerability, discipline, and the...
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Divya Dutta on Rejection, Mumbai Dreams & Bollywood Truths | Guftugu on Jashn-e-Rekhta
In this episode of Guftugu, Divya Dutta looks back on the journey that shaped her life and career. From growing up in Ludhiana, Punjab to arriving in Mumbai with big dreams, she speaks with honesty about rejection, resilience, survival, and the slow process of finding her place in cinema. The...
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Sneha Khanwalkar on Music, Travel and Finding Real Sound | Rekhta Guftgu
What does it really take to create a sound that feels original? In this episode of Rekhta Guftugu, Sneha Khanwalkar talks about the creative process behind her music, from travelling for field research and listening to real voices to turning regional textures into unforgettable songs. She shares...
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Jashn-e-Rekhta Mushaira | Nusrat Mehdi Live
Nusrat Mehdi brings her distinct poetic voice to this special Mushaira session at Jashn-e-Rekhta, the world’s most celebrated festival of Urdu language, literature, and culture. In this episode, her shayari moves through love, memory, human experience, reflection, and the emotional depth that...
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Iqbal Ashhar Mushaira Special | Jashn-e-Rekhta Live
In this special Jashn-e-Rekhta episode, celebrated poet Iqbal Ashhar takes the stage with shayari that is heartfelt, elegant, and unforgettable. His recitation carries the grace of classic Urdu poetry while speaking directly to modern listeners through themes of love, memory, longing, and life....
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Munawwar Rana at Jashn-e-Rekhta | Maa, Mohabbat and Yaadein
Experience the magic of Munawwar Rana Shayari in this special Jashn-e-Rekhta episode. Revered for his moving poetry on maa, family, love, loss, and the emotional fabric of everyday life, Munawwar Rana remains one of the most beloved voices in Urdu literature. This episode brings together the…
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Abbas Qamar and Himanshi Babra Live | Young Poets Mushaira at Jashn-e-Rekhta
Abbas Qamar and Himanshi Babra come together live at Jashn-e-Rekhta for the much-loved Young Poets Mushaira, a stage known for introducing some of the most compelling new voices in Urdu poetry. This episode captures the emotion, freshness, and lyrical intensity of a new generation of shayars...
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Zakir Khan on Life, Success and the Journey Within | Rekhta Guftgu
In this special episode of Rekhta Guftgu, Stand Up Comedian and Artist Zakir Khan reflects on the journey that shaped him. From his early life in Indore and struggles to his rise as one of India’s most loved voices in comedy and storytelling, this conversation opens up a more personal side of...
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Rahat Indori Grand Mushaira Highlights | Jashn-e-Rekhta
This episode brings together the unforgettable magic of Rahat Indori at the Grand Mushaira of Jashn e Rekhta. This special video brings together some of his best shayari, powerful stage presence, sharp wit, and the unmistakable energy that made him one of the most loved voices in Urdu poetry.…
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About this show
Jashn-e-Rekhta is the official Spotify destination for Urdu Poetry, Shayari, Ghazals, Podcasts, Interviews, Conversations, Music, and Cultural Performances from the Rekhta Foundation. Born from the world’s largest festival dedicated to Urdu, this show brings together exclusive audio and video content across poetry, spoken word, music, and storytelling. Follow Jashn-e-Rekhta to listen and watch the finest of Urdu culture, performance, and literary conversations, all in one place.
Hosted by
Rekhta Foundation
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