Farzana Mansoor
SHARJAH (UAE): In a vibrant celebration of language and cultural heritage, the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, in collaboration with Bazm-e-Urdu, proudly hosted Urdu Fest 2025 at the Intellectual Hall, Expo Centre Sharjah. The event brought together students, educators, poets, and literary enthusiasts for a day dedicated to showcasing the richness and elegance of the Urdu language through competitions and artistic performances.
The event featured two flagship competitions: Inter-School Baitbaazi Championship and Debate Competition (Taqreeri Muqabla).
Five leading schools from different Emirates across the UAE participated, demonstrating their eloquence, confidence, and deep-rooted connection to Urdu literature.
Winners of the Debate Competition: 1st Place: Pakistani Islamic Private School, Al Ain; 2nd Place: His Highness Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School Dubai; and 3rd Place: Pakistani Islamic Private School, Al Ain.
Winners of the Baitbaazi Championship: 1st Place: English Language School (Pvt.) Dubai; 2nd Place: Pamir Private School, Sharjah; and 3rd Place: Pakistani Islamic Private School, Al Ain.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Arsal Abbas, followed by a heartfelt introduction to Bazm-e-Urdu by Afia Khan, a bright and confident Grade 5 student.
Both the Debate and Baitbaazi competitions captivated the audience, showcasing the students’ eloquence, wit, and deep engagement with Urdu literature. A distinguished panel of judges – Dr. Asim Sabahat Wasti, Aijaz Shaheen, Arif Bhaldar, Kishwar, Nadeem Ahmad, Asad Haider, and Imad ul Malik – evaluated the performances with great appreciation
Shakeel Ahmed Khan, President of Bazm-e-Urdu, applauded the efforts of the entire Bazm-e-Urdu volunteer team, with special recognition to the organization’s founder Rehan Khan, currently based in Canada, for his instrumental role in planning and preparing the event.
The Baitbaazi Championship was moderated by renowned poet, Syed Tabish Zaidi, who eloquently highlighted the educational and cultural importance of this poetic tradition.
“Baitbaazi is more than just a literary game – it’s an intellectual activity that enhances memory, strengthens vocabulary, and deepens our appreciation of classical Urdu poetry,” said Zaidi.
He further added that Baitbaazi, a beloved tradition across Pakistan, India, and the Urdu-speaking diaspora, inspires youth to engage with poetry and helps preserve this cherished art form for future generations.
The Baitbaazi session was concluded with a motivational couplet by Abul Fitrat Mir Zaidi, recited by Syed Tabish Zaidi, leaving the audience inspired and emotionally stirred:
The prize distribution ceremony was gracefully emceed by the UAE’s own Tarannum Ahmed, who opened with gratitude to the Sharjah Book Authority for its generous support in enabling this much-needed platform that connects the younger generation with literature, culture, and core values.
Certificates of participation were awarded to all student participants, and trophies were presented to the winners in recognition of their outstanding performances.
Urdu Fest 2025 stood as a shining testament to Sharjah’s unwavering commitment to promoting cultural literacy and preserving linguistic heritage for generations to come.
