A festival of Dance , Drama, Film , History, Literature, Music and Cuisine with Weaves and Craft bazaar. We invite you to come fall in love again with the city and taste the inimitable flavours of Aashiqana Lucknow.
“na haarā hai ishq aur na duniyā thakī hai diyā jal rahā hai havā chal rahī hai”
Here’s to walking through a city that is aashiqana not only in its people and places but also in its stories, memories, food, art, language and cityscapes. Why aashiqui, though? Some say aashiqui is synonymous with peace, and some say junoon. But the beauty of aashiqui lies in how there are multiple layers of emotions leading to diverse interpretations and manifestations of it. Aashiqui is not right, not wrong, it just is.
Come celebrate aashiqui with us. And while we’re at it, let's experience Ishq-e-Majazi, Ishq-e-Haqiqi and all things in between, walking the tight ropes of humanity and the social fabric that it exists in, all against the backdrop of a very Aashiqana Lucknow.
A puzzle, a riddle, an emotion, a passion, a way of life for some, a waste of time for others. It has a thousand names and as many meanings. It inspires great works of art, moves mountains, demolishes kingdoms; it also manifests in sweet nothings, a stolen look, a dried flower in a forgotten book, that crumbles upon touch. It’s universal and personal, unbearable longing and indescribable ecstasy, vulnerable as a teardrop, defiant as a mountain top.
Love is definitely what has kept us going for 15 years to bring you this labour of love, this celebration of Lucknow and of handicrafts, this beautiful, chaotic, potpourri of experiences that is the Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival. And if you haven’t already guessed by now, the theme for this year’s exploration is Aashiqana Lucknow.
“na haarā hai ishq aur na duniyā thakī hai diyā jal rahā hai havā chal rahī hai”
Here’s to walking through a city that is aashiqana not only in its people and places but also in its stories, memories, food, art, language and cityscapes. Why aashiqui, though? Some say aashiqui is synonymous with peace, and some say junoon. But the beauty of aashiqui lies in how there are multiple layers of emotions leading to diverse interpretations and manifestations of it. Aashiqui is not right, not wrong, it just is.
Come celebrate aashiqui with us. And while we’re at it, let's experience Ishq-e-Majazi, Ishq-e-Haqiqi and all things in between, walking the tight ropes of humanity and the social fabric that it exists in, all against the backdrop of a very Aashiqana Lucknow.
The much-awaited MSLF is back in its 15th edition and yes it has all the usual sights, sounds
and experiences that you have come to love over the years. The festival will host a series of performances, discussions, installations and a well-researched, experiential exhibition on the theme, apart from the usual food, crafts bazaar, qissagoi and baitbaazi sessions that you have come to love and expect over the years.
The Weaves and Crafts Bazaar showcases handcrafted products from over 100 artisans from all over the country under the majestic Safed Baradari. The heritage walks and tours explore the various popular and sometimes unknown facets of this beautiful city which include the homes of lucknow, the qasbas, heritage sites, food walk, with many more interesting and anecdotal qisse weaved with facts and history. The Literary Guftgu is a series of theme based talks and discussions that serve to highlight the living heritage and culture of the city. The food stalls showcase the best culinary traditions of Lucknow and the Awadhi Home Cooked Food Festival aka Sunday Food Festival is something that entices visitors in droves every year. Not to be left behind, the scintillating live performances, including the much-awaited Dawn Concert every year, bring in art lovers and aficionados from all walks of life, to share an experience as a community. With workshops, discussions, films, theatre, music, poetry, food, shopping, walks, book releases, exhibitions – This 5-day community mela has grown into an experience that draws in visitors by the thousands every year, both from within the city and from all over the country.
Dedicated to the memory of Late Indira Mahindra who continues to inspire the core values of the festival, the Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival is built upon the very principles that Indira Mahindra lived by – To bring together people from all walks of life and celebrate the rich culture of our country.
ik lafz-e-mohabbat kā adnā ye fasānā hai
simTe to dil-e-āshiq phaile to zamāna hai
The 15th edition will feature an exemplary line-up of artists and performers, with Voctronica, the country's first ever all-vocal orchestra, Banat and Tamara, artists who perform folk music fusion of western and eastern culture, Parmesh Shahni, Naman Ahuja, Mala Sinha, Prahlad Singh Tippaniya, Kavya Saxena on a series of theme based talks and discussions at our Literary Guftgu. These are just a few names. The city will be grooving to the tunes of Ishq for all the 5 days of the festival.
We invite you to come fall in love again with the city and taste the inimitable flavours of Aashiqana Lucknow.
2 - 6 February, 2024
Safed Baradari & Salempur House, Qaiser Bagh
Launched in 2010, out of the community that grew around Sanatkada, MSLF distills the essence of Lakhnavi culture, in the form of an open to all event, targeted as much at Lucknow’s deeply entrenched locals as well as to newcomers and visitors.