LAHORE: Hundreds of people from all walks of life attended the Faiz Aman Mela (peace festival) at the Open Air Theatre, Bagh-i-Jinnah, on Sunday.

The festival, a part of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s 102nd birth anniversary celebrations, was organised by Faiz Aman Mela Committee and Awami Workers Party, in collaboration with the Punjab Council of Arts.

The festival, a tribute to revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, was attended by a diversified audience, including members of progressive political parties, civil society organizations, workers, students etc.

The event comprised two sessions -- poetry and singing. The poetry sitting was conducted by Dr Khalid Javed who recited couplets by Faiz. Prominent poets who participated in the sitting included Aslam Gurdaspuri, Dr Fakhar Abbas, Dr Khawaja Zikriya, Dr Jawaz Jaffry and Baba Najmi.

In the musical session, a number of popular singers sang Faiz’s poetry for a responsive audience, including Adeel Burki, Nida Faiz and Taranum Naz.

A number of organisations had set up their stalls at the venue, including the Awami Workers Party, Lahore chapter, the Women Workers Helpline, the Mirani Dam Flood Victims and the National Student Federation.

Bookstalls were also set up by various publishing houses, including Fiction House and Sanjh Publications.

Salima Hashmi and Muniza Hashmi, the daughters of Faiz, also spoke to the audience about the poet’s legacy. They thanked the audience and organisers for ‘keeping the true spirit of Faiz alive’.

The event was part of the celebrations of the 102nd birth anniversary of the late Faiz Ahmed Faiz.