LAHORE: The Lahore Arts Council organised on Wednesday an evening with romantic poet Ali Zaryoun at Alhamra.

Zaryoun is popular among the youth who came in droves to attend the evening.

Valentine’s Day and Zaryoun’s romantic poetry added spice to the event. Mostly attired in red and pink, the crowd was responsive to the poetry.

The Hall 2 of Alhamra Art Centre was literally jam packed. The shows the crowd-pulling power of the power of the poet. The stage was bedecked with flowers and a big flex in the backdrop bearing Zaryoun’s picture and poetry adoring the stage.

The evening had a bit different pattern as compare to traditional poetical evenings. The poet invited audience on the stage to have conversation with him and to share their request for poetry.

One of the participants, Mahnoor, presented a sketch of Zaryoun made by her to the poet.

Alina, another participant, sang a song for the poet urging him not to end the evening soon by singing “Aaj Janay Ki Zid Na Kero”. There were boys too on the stage who either recited their poetry for the poet or that of Ali Zaryoun’s.

Zaryoun said that he was the poet of masses and he first participated in a poetry sitting back in 2000 at Alhamra, “I started my journey of reciting poetry from Alhamra and it was memorable and now in 2024 this evening is also memorable,” said the poet.

He recited poetry from his collection and some poems on request of the audience. Ali Zaryoun is one of the most popular poets among the youth and on social media. Many among his fans had come from different cities to attend the evening. He recited many of his famous verses, such as “Khabon Ka Dhanda Kerti Ho, Kitnay Paisay Ho Jatay Hain” and “Wo Jo Mashhoor Thay Dil Tornay Mein, Ab Un Kay Dil Toray Ja Rahay Hain”. He also recited his Punjabi poetry “Aye Ki Chand Charah Dita Ee, Sanu Hi Magron La Dita Ee”.

Zaryoun told Dawn he was amazed to see such a massive gathering that came to attend his evening. To this question that why the youth is so crazy for his poetry, Mr Zaryoun said perhaps he conveyed their emotions well through his poetry keeping it knitted with the contemporary scene.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2024