The Indian High School’s Shaikh Rashid auditorium will be the venue of the annual Indian Republic Day Kavi Sammelan & Mushaira this evening.

Bekal Utsahi, Wasim Barelvi, Anwar Jalalpuri, Anjum Barabankwi, Shayama Singh Saba, Saghar Khayyami and Balchand Tripathi are among several top-of-the line poets who will regale the audience at what is arguably one of the most cherished Indian Republic Day events in Dubai. Indian Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad will be the chief guest at the function.

Georges Feydeau’s classic comedy, Sauce for the Goose, offers a disabused but optimistic view of marriage and relationships. Presented in three acts, the play shows how men bully, scheme but fail in their attempts, while women change and grow, eventually turning the tables to emerge triumphant.

WHERE: Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre

Foodies have a feast awaiting them when they visit Taste Of Dubai, the finest outdoor gourmet food and beverage event of the year. But the fest is not just about food, the four-day event also features live music and other entertaining performances.

WHERE: Dubai Media City

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain will perform at a live concert on February 1 at Aviation Club. Titled Nirvana, the fusion show also features Vinnie Colaiuta, former lead drummer for Sting, and Frank Zappa; Bela Fleck, one among the world’s leading banjo players; Edgar Meyer, one of the best bassists alive; V. Selvaganesh, master of the kanjira (tambourine); Niladari Kumar, one of the finest Indian sitar virtuosos today; and tabla player Taufiq Qureshi, who is also the younger brother of Zakir Hussain.

WHERE: Dubai Tennis Stadium, Aviation Club

Eating out: Krystal dinner show

Set against the backdrop of the yacht marina of Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, the Krystal Dinner Show combines fine dining with flamboyant entertainment. The show features a 5-star spread and entertaining acts put together by a cast of 20 artistes (singers, acrobats, aerialists, dancers, musicians and comedy performers). The event will be held at the Grand Spiegel tent, a 26-metre mobile structure from the 19th century.

WHERE: Le Meridien Mina Seyahi

One of India’s most revered classical dancer Manjari Chaturvedi will perform on soul-stirring qawwalis from the Awadh region on Friday evening. The only performing artist of Sufi kathak, Manjari lends a new dimension to the dance form by fusing the dancing styles of the whirling dervishes of Turkey with kathak.

Where: Al Joharra Ballroom, Madinat Jumeirah

When: Friday 11, 7pm

It was a year studded with great live concerts. But, a quick scan of the new calendar suggests that the trend will carry on in 2008 as the year promises to bring big acts to the nation.

It all kicks off with the Elton John concert at Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi on January 22, 2008. The legendary musician is set to enthrall fans in Abu Dhabi where he is performing for the first time. It’s no sacrifice for Dubai, though, as the star has already had a date with the city.