With digital media breaking all barriers of distance and time, boundaries no longer restrict festivities in today’s global world . Here’s a Baisakhi celebration with a difference. A virtual poetry symposium, christened ‘International Literary Friends Kavya Goshti’ was held by the International Literary Friends Group on Wednesday. Eminent poets and litterateurs from across the globe, including the US , Dubai, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal and Chandigarh participated in the literary fiesta.
Karma wali Baisakhi aayee ‘e, asin mitran de nal manaee ‘e…”Sudesh Noor from America extended her Baisakhi greetings with this verse of her meaningful composition.
The seminar started with Saraswati Vandana by Vandana Singla from Chicago. This was followed by an evocative ghazal rendered by Acharaya Sagar from Uttar Pradesh Jalao chahe, chahe dafna do mujhko, magar mera kasoor toa batla do mujhko, which set the ball rolling. Renu Abbi from Chandigarh read out her verse in chaste gurmukhi (Punjabi language) Yaadan zindagi da khazana han, zindagi nu mahkavan da bahana han” equating life’s fond memories with precious ‘wealth’.
Krishna Goel from Panchkula in a moving note narrated the value of friends in life. She rendered Jo tumhare sung sung muskuraye, use dost kehte han…”
Kamal Dogra, from Himachal, was cryptic in comparing the journey of human life with that of the journey of a train, which is fraught with tumultuous twists and turns. He doled out his composition in Punjabi Zindagi ve saadi yaaro, ek chaldi rail hai…
Ms Anu from Dubai recited her composition cautioning the wicked world against exploitation of women, equating the quintessential woman to a free butterfly Mujhe tum bandh loge yeh kabhi hasrat nahin rakhna, ki mein aazad titli hun meri chahat nahin rakhna…” which evoked a full-throated appreciation. Aruna Dogra was the next to present her powerful poetic composition in a unique style Mere safar mein saaman mera chhut gaya, manjil se pehle savar mera toot gaya…”
Renu Shabadmukhar from Jaipur (Rajasthan) expressed her sentiments in a tongue-in-cheek style which left the participants in splits Abb mein prem nahin karti, likhti hun prem par kavita…
A prominent ghazal singer from Meerut Ritu Aggarwal won hearts of poetry lovers as she read out her verse unfolding the fake and frivolous human psyche“ Pyar ka ab sila nahin milta, har bhale ko bhala nahin milta…”
Dr Pradyuman Bhalla on the occasion presented a spiritual ghazal Guru ki jo raza mein hai, woh gurmat mein dhala banda, sapne sach huye uske, woh begumpur chala banda…” which evoked a thunderous applause from the fellow participants and others in audience.
The two-hour long online poetic seminar witnessed the finest presentations comprising various genres, including literary, spiritual, romantic, material and metaphysical, et al, all rolled into one .
Baisakhi celebrations at DAV Public school, Sector 39 D
A baisakhi mela was held at DAV Public school, Sector 39 D, Chandigarh, to educate students on the relevance of Baisakhi festival. The chief guest on the occasion was H R Gandhar from DAV CMC, Delhi. School Principal Maninder Vohra addressed the students and school Manager, Madhu Bahl, made the children aware of diiferent facets of Baisakhi.
(The writer , Ramesh K Dhiman, is a former staffer of The Tribune and freelance writer. He has written extensively for leading newspapers and magazines on art, culture, mythology, besides travelogues.)
