A festival to explore various facets of Dara Shikoh

New Delhi, March 24
The life and times of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's eldest son will come alive through music, theatre and story telling sessions during a festival that will begin here from March 27.

A seven-day long "Dar-e-Shikoh: Dara Shikoh Festival of Delhia is the first of its kind to throw light on the lesser known aspects of his life through visual commentary. It will be held at Ambedkar University in Kashmere Gate till April 6.

Using the medium of sound projections, musical arts, dastangoi-- an oral storytelling form, and theatre presentations, the organisers hope to recreate the times of 17th century when Shikoh was alive.

The idea of the festival comes from the fact that the students of Ambedkar University, organisers of the event, feel that the forlorn library of Dara Shikoh, which is based in the premises of the university, should be reopened and this activity is an ode to bring back the magic of Shikoh.

"We are exploring Dara (Shikoh) emotional relationship with his siblings, family through these performances, also we are looking at highlighting how he was a connoisseur of arts," a research scholar from the university told IANS.

The performances are from 6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m.