Jashn-e-dastaan-e-Mumbai, the annual cultural festival organised by the Mumbai Research Centre of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, is back after a brief hiatus. In the  2023 offering, they are celebrating the city’s vivid street life with a month of walks, talks and workshops, all culminating in a poetic tribute on the steps of the Asiatic Library at Horniman Circle.

Curated by architect, poet and professor Mustansir Dalvi, seven poets will recite their verse in Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarati, Urdu and Bengali. Dalvi, who lives in New Panvel, has spent most of his time in Fort, attending college and now working there. His poetry will have anecdotes of how the city flows through him. “I write in two trajectories,” he says, “one where the city is what it is today as one moves through its streets. The other is where I write about the city in history charting the various ways it came to be.” Landmarks such as Horniman circle, Harbour Line even the infamous Mumbai monsoon and harsh summer make their way into his verses, bringing back bitter-sweet memories.   Speaking about the poets in attendance that evening, Dalvi says, “These are some of the most talented poets from our city, and I have followed and loved their work for a while now.”