JKAACL starts 7-Day Poetry Festival in Jammu

Jammu, Dec 21: The Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL) has successfully begun with a 07-Day Poetry Festival at JKAACL premises in Jammu. The Poetry 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 this auspicious occasion. The distinguished assemblage included the likes of Padamshree Dr Jitender Udhampuri, Former Director of Radio Kashmir/Jammu; Shri Pritpal Singh Betaab (Rt. IAS), a celebrated poet and former administrator; Shri Ahmad Shahnas, an eminent poet cum former administrator; Shri Satish Vimal, an acclaimed literary personality of the region.

While presenting the keynote address, Dr Shalini Rana, an academician, extended a heartfelt cordial welcome and highlighted the creative contribution of poets to society since time immemorial.

Then onwards, Sh. Vakeel Hayat, Smt. Swaran Kotwal, Sh. Mohan Singh Ulfat, Sh. Sham Talib, Sh. Ashok Kumar Paras, Sh. Tariq Raza, Sh. Bashir –Ul-Haq, Sh. Irfan Arif, Smt. Fouzia Mughal, Er. Aslam Shahzad, Sh. Ghani Ghayoor, Sh. Parvaiz Malik, Sh. Taslim Muntazar, Sh. Umar Farahat, Smt. Naseem Akhtar, Sh. Khursheed Kazami, Sh. Varun Veer, Sh. Amin Banhali, Sh. Raj Kumar Chandan, Dr Darakshna Andrabi, Dr Liaqat Jafri, Sh. Ahmed Shanas, and Sh. Pritpal Singh Betab graced the event with their poetical renditions. Ms 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 laud from the art and culture connoisseurs of the region.