Jammu, Dec 21: Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL) on Wednesday organized a 7-day poetry festival at JKAACL premises here. The festival intends to accommodate poets of seven different languages – Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi, Gojri, and Pahari – with a day dedicated to every single language.
Dr Darakshan Andrabi, Chairman of J&K WAQF Board, was the chief guest on the auspicious occasion. The dignitaries included Padamshree Dr Jitender Udhampuri, Former Director of Radio Kashmir/Jammu; Pritpal Singh Betaab (Rt. IAS), a celebrated poet and former administrator; Ahmad Shahnas, an eminent poet cum former administrator; Satish Vimal, an acclaimed literary personality of the region.
While presenting the keynote address, Dr Shalini Rana, an academician, extended a cordial welcome to the guests and highlighted the creative contribution of poets to society since time immemorial. Renowned poets Vakeel Hayat, Swaran Kotwal, Mohan Singh Ulfat, Sham Talib, Ashok Kumar Paras, Tariq Raza, Bashir-Ul-Haq, Irfan Arif, Fouzia Mughal, Er. Aslam Shahzad, Ghani Ghayoor, Parvaiz Malik, Taslim Muntazar, Umar Farahat, Naseem Akhtar, Khursheed Kazami, Varun Veer, Amin Banhali, Raj Kumar Chandan, Dr Darakshna Andrabi, Dr Liaqat Jafri, Ahmed Shanas, and Pritpal Singh Betab graced the event with their poetical renditions. Bindiya Tickoo conducted the proceedings of the Poetry Festival.
The audience, in multitude, relished the grandeur of the literary expression. The cultural academy’s effort in promoting cultural sensitivities is receiving praise from the art and culture connoisseurs of the region.
