State to host global poetry fest with Racism as theme

Thiruvananthapuram: An array of global poets will recite their verses in the State capital as part of an international poetry festival beginning here on November 9.

The 11th edition of Kritya International Poetry Festival is expected to have participants from various countries, including Turkey, Estonia, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Mexico, Canada, Egypt, Mongolia and South Africa, its organisers said.

The three-day event, whose theme is 'Poetry against Xenophobia and Racism', would also have participation from various Indian languages including Malayalam, Gujarati, Urdu, Hindi, Panjabi and Marathi.

The theme has become more relevant in present times when all over the world there is an atmosphere of hatred and crime against all kinds of minorities such as gender, race religion, language and culture, Kritya Literary Trust, the organisers, said in a statement.

State-run Bharat Bhavan here and Raza Foundation, New Delhi, are the co-partners of the event.

The main aim of the festival is to plant a seed of global harmony and love across the societies especially among the young generation,they said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the poetry fest at Bharath Bhavan and the function would be presided over by poet Ashok Vajpeyi, who is also the Managing trustee of Raza Foundation.

Followed by the inaugural ceremony, a tribute to renowned Malayalam poet late O N V Kurup would be paid by way of live painting along with recitation of his poems in five foreign languages by well known international poets.

Live painting will be done by eminent artist and painter B D Dethan, it said.

As part of the festival, a session of 'Poetry Therapy' would be held for prison inmates of Poojapura Central Prison here.