By Hassan Zia Rizvi, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: A two day Wajid Ali Shah Festival was organized by Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali’s Rumi Foundation at Chattar Manzil to pay tribute to the Nawab of Oudh.
Chattar Manzil was the great architectural heritage build by Nawab Ghaziuddin Haider, which is now the home of CDRI (Central Drug Research Institute).
Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali who always works for culture and heritage of the city from his organization, Rumi foundation, once again enchanted the audience.
Wajid Ali Shah was a veteran poet and patron of art and a great composer of music particularly thumri and he also revived dances like kathak in the Oudh capital.
The two days festival witnessed by multitude of audience mainly the aficionados of poetry, literature and artists.
Uttar Pradesh CM inaugurated the festival on December 21, and witnessed the ‘The Gomti, a dance of ballet choreographed by Muzaffar Ali.
To promote heritage tourism another event also took place at Vivanta by Taj sponsored by Government of UP, India Glycol and Hindustan power which was attended by 40 all India tour operators and delegates from the tourism industry, with Minister of State OP Singh which was followed by the presentations on restoration of historic heritage of Lucknow.
On 22 December, in the morning walk of heritage conservation with a display of classic and vintage cars by Oudh Heritage Car club, took place. Besides, Zardozi and Chikan work in association with ASI and UP tourism department, were also on display.
The closing ceremony of the festival in the evening witnessed celebrities, politicians and bureaucrats of Lucknow like Jayant Krishna, Governor BL Joshi, Dr.Karan singh, Tariq Khan among others.
Subha Mugdal enthralled the audience towards the end of the programme.