PESHAWAR, April 20: Poets and singers drawn from divergent schools of thoughts captivated a large number of enthusiasts at a mushaira and concert arranged by the cultural committee of the Peshawar Press Club on Saturday night to celebrate the heralding of the spring.

Most of the poets recited their recent poems to reflect the spring carnival and the participants appreciated every bit of the proceedings, given the fact that the poets delivered their best.

Famous poet and regional director of Pushto Adabi Board, Dr Mohammad Azam Azam, presided over the mushaira while PTV Programme Manager Shaukat Ali was the guest of honour.

The unique arrangements, where the poets sat on the red carpet, specially laid for the occasion, showcased the dazzling Pakhtoon traditions.

Local poet Pareshan Daudzai set the ball rolling by rendering blank verses, sending the jampacked hall into laughter.

He was simple in the selection of words, which was liked by all and sundry.

Female poet Aneela Habibullah also selected a comedy-style poem on the LFO, with every couplet revolving around it. She said LFO had become a talk of the town and everyone from politicians to men in streets opposed it.

Next was the renowned comedy-poem writer, Akmal Lewanai, who targeted Pakistani bureaucrats during the course of his short poems.

Regional director of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Peshawar chapter, Said Wali Khial Momand, as usual was impressive with his progressive thoughts, and the way he delivered his fresh ghazals found many receptive ears.

The comedy and fun-filled poetry of Dad Mohammad Dilsoz, stole the show as far as the extent of humour was concerned. The audience kept laughing during his high profile comedy poems. He rose to his reputation of arousing laughter.

But the food for the thought came from pretty-faced female poet, Haseena Gul Tanha, who was bold enough to render ghazals, which showed her boldness.

Her secular thoughts, in a Pakhtoon-dominated society, was no small feat and she left the stage amid deafening clapping.

Mohammad Azam Azam, in his poem, referred to the pleasant weather of spring, where the people at large felt pleasure. His drowsy style added beauty to his delivery of ghazals.

Host Shaheen Buneri cut short the mushaira to switch over to concert, because time was running out.

Zahidullah Afridi began with Pushto ghazal and then sang an Urdu qawali. His sweet voice and best sound system enabled the singer to end up with a spellbinding performance.

It was followed by Abdur Rauf Arab’s late Abdul Ghani Khan’s ghazal. Rauf, though a banker by profession, was impressive.

The only exception was female singer, Rukhsaar, who appeared having problems with the instrumentalists to coordinate with. She, however, left the stage for the last and most famous singer, Gulzar Alam.

Gulzar, known for his services towards the aggrandisement of Pushto music, was outstanding. Due to his secular ideas, he had recently been the target of the MMA government.

But he sang some of his famous numbers quite fearlessly, which forced a number of journalists dance profusely.