Bhubaneswar: More than 1,000 poets and writers from 82 countries as well as 500 poets from Odisha will participate in the 39th World Congress of Poets (WCP), which will commence at KIIT deemed to be university from October 2.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to inaugurate the 39th WCP, whose theme is ‘Compassion through Poetry’ to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
During the five-day Congress, different poetic themes—Compassion Poetry, Wisdom Poetry, Tourism Poetry, Spiritual Poetry and Reflection Poetry—will be showcased. Wisdom Poetry will be held on October 3 at KIIT and Tourism Poetry will be held at Konark Sun Temple on October 4. The venue for Spiritual Poetry is Puri Sea Beach and Reflection Poetry will be held at KISS.
During the event, the highest honour of WCP ‘Golden Gabel’ will be conferred on Dr Achyuta Samanta. Besides, Honorary D.Litt will be conferred on six eminent litterateurs and Honorary Diploma to five eminent persons. The Gandhi Prize for Literature will be awarded to noted Gandhian from Odisha, Acharya Bhabananda.
WCP is one of a kind festival in which poets from all over the world congregate under one roof to discuss, read and critically appreciate the works of fellow poets. Established in 1969, WCP is affiliated with the world academy of art and culture (WAAC) registered in the USA and recognized by UNESCO.
This is the third time WCP is being hosted in India, with Chennai playing host on the two previous occasions in 1986 and 2007.
