Famous Kavis from India enthrall with laughter and poetry
Poets from India enthralled the audience with laughter at the Hashya Kavi Sammelan, organized by the UP Association of Greater Chicago, on April 21, at Ashyana Banquets, in Downers Grove.
The three outstanding poets invited from India to perform were Arun Gemini, Shambhu Sikhar and Mumtaz Naseem. These poets kept the audience spellbound with hashya poetry, comedy, gazals and geets for about three hours.
Shikhar and Gemini both recited outstanding poetry with satire and comedy. Naseem recited several beautiful gazals and geets. The audience enjoyed every moment of this unique program organized by the UP Association.
The event started with a formal welcome by Dr. Subhash Pandey, The chairman of the board of trustees for the UP association. He mentioned that the UP Association started this tradition of “Kavi Sammelan: in 1991, to promote and preserve Hindi language outside of India. He said that this annual event of the UP Association has been extremely popular and well received by people in the Chicago area.
Dr. Pandey also thanks the International Hindi Association of North America for promoting the national language, Hindi, and collaborating with UP Association in conducting Kavi Sammelan in Chicago for last several years.
Uma Agrawal, president of the association, provided her warm welcome to the audience and visiting poets from India. She said that Hashya Kavi Sammelan is a signature event of the UP Association, and “I am excited to be part of the executive committee for carrying out this tradition.”
Special guest Sanjeev Kumar Pal, consul of cultural affairs, Consulate General of India, Chicago, in his remarks congratulated the members of the UP Association for preserving its national language, Hindi, in the U.S. He further emphasized that the Indian Consulate in Chicago has been engaged in promoting Hindi by organizing “The Hindi Day.”
Poets were introduced by Dr. Pandey and the program began with Saraswati Vandana recited by Naseem. The Kavi Sammelan was moderated by Gemini. The program continued with Hashya poetry, comedy and gazals. This was followed with a short intermission during which time snacks were served by the Ashyana Banquet.
All three poets from India kept the audience spellbound and consistently entertained for about three hours. The program was attended by more than 300 people. Finally, a vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Pandey and he appreciated the support of the Indian community and expressed his sincere gratitude to poets for a successful Kavi Sammelan event that was well received.