New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS): Lovers of Urdu will get a treat at the Urdu Heritage Festival starting Sep 20 at the Red Fort here. Qawwalis, gazal renditions, a mushaira and a play are all part of the programme, an official statement said.

The Department of Art, Culture and Languages in collaboration with the Urdu Academy have organised this five-day event, which will see qawwali performances by Aslam Sabri and Nasir Sabri, ghazal recitals by Bhupinder and Mitali, Anwar Hussain, Zila Khan and Anita Singhvi.

A play on the life and times of the 19th century classical Urdu and Persian poet Ghalib, featuring Tom Alter in the lead, will also be staged.

Urdu Academy secretary Anis Azmi said in a statement: "When you talk about Delhi, the culture spun around this beautiful language is spoken of in the same breath. Urdu is a representative of Delhi as much as is the Red Fort. It is this inviolable link that we desire to highlight through this festival."

Another highlight of the festival is an all-India Mushaira that will bring together some of the country's most popular Urdu poets.

Even the dying form of Urdu poetry "Chaar Bait" will be presented in its traditional form.

Entry is free to all. The festival ends Sep 24.