Lucknow: On the eve of Republic Day, the cultural pavilion of UP Mahotsav resonated with patriotic fervour and literary elegance as a Kavi Sammelan was organised under the aegis of Lakshya Literary, Social and Cultural Institution. Rich in themes of nationalism, social awareness, and creative expression, the event left the audience deeply moved.
The poetic evening began with a Vani Vandana rendered by Aahat Lakhnavi, setting a solemn and inspiring tone. The programme was graced by Sampatti Mishra ‘Bhramar Vaiswari’ as the chief guest and Sunil Bajpai as the special guest. Renowned ghazal writer Kunwar Kusumesh presided over the session, while the proceedings were skilfully conducted by noted humour and satire poet Praveen Kumar Shukla ‘Gobar Ganesh’.
The recital opened with a powerful patriotic poem by young poetess Vandita Pandey, which drew spontaneous applause from the audience. Dr Nisha Singh Naval enriched the atmosphere with a patriotic song, infusing the gathering with energy and pride. Host Gobar Ganesh captivated listeners with sharp satire on social contradictions, earning loud appreciation.
Lyricist Sunil Bajpai presented verses celebrating the spirit of the spring season, while Delhi-based poetess Anuja Manu impressed the audience with her emotionally charged composition. Alok Rawat ‘Aahat Lakhnavi’ further strengthened the patriotic mood with a stirring nationalistic song.
Well-known prosodist Dr Sharad Pandey ‘Shashank’ delivered powerful metered verses highlighting national unity and harmony. Poetess Pooja Agrawal presented a devotional composition, adding a spiritual dimension to the evening. Presiding poet Kunwar Kusumesh enthralled the audience with his ghazal, earning prolonged applause.
Several other poets, including Praveen Pandey ‘Awara’, Seema Srivastava, Ve-Adab Lakhnavi, Dinesh Soni, Ashu Tiwari, Priya Singh, Arunima Joshi, Rajeev Pant, Saurabh Singh, and Nilesh Pandey, also presented their works, making the evening a vibrant celebration of poetry and expression.
At the conclusion of the programme, Dr Nisha Singh Naval proposed the vote of thanks. N.B. Singh, Vice President of the institution, honoured all participating poets with mementoes, while Vinod Kumar Singh, President of the institution, expressed gratitude to the guests, poets, and the audience for their presence and support.
The literary gathering stood out as a meaningful celebration of patriotism, culture, and creative spirit, perfectly complementing the national mood on the eve of the 77th Republic Day.
