PESHAWAR: A cultural evening organised on Monday at Nishtar Hall to eulogise poetry and life of great Pashto poet and warrior Khushaal Khan Khattak turned out to be more a dance and song show.

The provincial culture directorate organised the event in collaboration with Culture Journalist Forum to celebrate 323rd birthday of Khushaal Khan.

A documentary prepared by the directorate on the life and poetry of Khushaal was presented when the show began.

The documentary narrated how Khushaal, a warrior and poet, loved to hunt and how he bravely first fought on the side of Mughal emperor with loyalty but after sensing their double standard and injustice, he resisted Mughal domination. The documentary also narrated how Khushaal Khan advocated ideals like honour, self-respect, unity and self-reliance.

Fayyaz Kheshgi, a fresh ghazal singer, sang verses of Khushaal Khan and famous Pashto poet Ghani Khan. Other famous Pashto singers including Mehjabeen Qazalbash and Naghma also enthralled the audience.

Musharraf Bangash also sang his famous nationalistic and fold songs. However, some of the female and male artists also performed on few old songs which had little or no relevance to Khushaal Khan.

However, Khattak dance troupe was there to entertain the gathering with their skills.

The musical evening, which was organised to remember the poetry and bravery of the poet, ended in music leaving little impact on youngsters living in times which demand the same wisdom and spirit with which Khushaal Khan had lived.

Youngsters who took pleasure in listening to musical beats and romantic songs with performance by male and female artists went away with little knowledge of what Khushaal Khan stood for and what he advocated in his verses.