JKAACL: Pahari Poets graced the final day at 07-Day Poetry Festival

Jammu, Dec 28: The Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL) has successfully organised the finale of the Poetry festival, dedicated to the Pahari language, at JKAACL premises in Jammu. The Poetry Festival successfully provided a platform to more than 250 poets of seven different languages: Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi, Gojri, and Pahari — with a day dedicated to every single language.

Jenab Sheikh Azad Ahmad Azad (Awardee), Zonal Education Officer (Retired), was the chief guest on the occasion. The event was presided over by Jenab Mohammad Rasheed Qammar, Retired Cultural Officer (JKAACL). At the outset, the programme was traditionally inaugurated with the lamp-lighting ceremony. Jenab Sheikh Azad Ahmad Azad, Jenab Mohammad Rasheed Qammar, and Shri Bharat Singh (JKAS) facilitated the lamp-lighting ceremony.

Sh. Bharat Singh (JKAS), Secretary JKAACL, gave a heartfelt welcome to everyone. While addressing the audience, he congratulated everyone on the success of the literary initiative that provided a podium for the multitude of regional poets to express their culture and emotions through poetry. He further mentioned his elation at the success of the initiative by the JKAACL which was directly associated with the enthusiastic participation of people from civil society.

“These regional languages are our cultural heritage; we all should be proud of our indigenous languages, and the responsibility for the promotion and preservation of culture lies on the individual shoulder,” mentioned the Secretary while concluding his welcome address. He further affirmed that JKAACL shall continue to work towards its literary endeavours aimed at the promotion of literature both in the Jammu and the Kashmir region.

Mtr Zahida Khanam, Mr Mohammad Bashir Lohar, Mr Javaid Naheem, Mohd. Sharif Qamar, Mr Sadeeq Ahmad Sadeeqi, Mr Mohammad Aslam, Malik Zakir Khaki, Mr Rafeeq Khan Rafeeq, Malik Shafeeq Aarish, Syed Anwar Shaheen, Mr Khursheed Kirmani, Mr Parvaiz Manous(Awardee), and Mtr Samina Saher graced the event and spellbound the audience with their poetical renditions.

Altaf Ahmad Janjuya conducted the proceedings on the final day of the Poetry Festival. While concluding the event, Dr Shahnawaz, Incharge cum Editor (Gojri) cum Cultural Officer (JKAACL), expressed a sincere vote of thanks to the august gathering for their valuable presence at the event.

The audience enthusiastically relished the grandeur of the literary expression. The Cultural Academy’s effort in promoting cultural sensitivities is receiving laud from the art and cultural connoisseurs of the region.