The sun shone gracefully to welcome to  Wednesbury,  poets  from  all  over  the

world at the Annual Kavi Darbar organised by the Gitanjali Multi Lingual Literary Circle in association with the Sant Nirankari Mandal (UK).

The poets and avid listeners began to arrive at the Nirankari Bhavan at around 2.30pm being welcomed by organisers. Light refreshments were served after which all attendees began

to take their seats.

The Darbar was opened by Jai Verma Ji, which was followed the lighting of the lamp ceremony by the chief Guest,  The Consulate General of India Mr. N. P. Sharma  and Shree Keshari  Nath  Tripathi the speaker of the  Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. The significance of this  ceremony   is   to   shown

how the light of knowledge is the only way to illuminate the darkness of ignorance, we experience in the world today. Thereafter, in the normal way, a Vandana was recited by Aravinda Roa ji creating a peace filled environment, which was proceeded by a welcome address from Dr Krishna Kumar Ji.

The  stream  of poetry  began  its flow,   by  the

recital of a verse belonging to Gitanlaji, the young girl after whom this poetry circle has been formed. Vibhati Bhatia (aged 7) a poetess of tender years, presented the poem entitled Death and I, who incidentally is the youngest ever  contributor to  have taken part in an event organised by the circle. Thereafter, the Sanchalan (Co-ordinator) for the Darbar Bhartendu  Vimal  of  B.B.C.  London   World

service took to the stage to allow the anxious poets to express their thoughts on a range of subjects from social reform to philosophical enquiry.

The poets unleashed their knowledge and wisdom before the gathered audience, inciting great joy and praise. As the evening unfolded many  beautiful  words  were  spoken  in  many

different languages including Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Gujarati, English, Bangla to name a few. This is a unique society of poets, one of its fundamental goals being to unite people through understanding and promotion of poetry in diverse languages.

The evening came to a close with the speeches of HS Upashak ji and the Consular

General of India. A vegetarian meal was served to everyone, by the volunteers of the Sant Niarankari Mandal who helped arrange the whole event which was greatly appreciated and their spirit of selfless service was again seen to prevail.

In summary, we see again another successful event leading to the understanding of man with 

fellow man, through the medium of poetry. The key to peace is for us to appreciate each other and shelve ignorance which was a feeling promoted by this event coinciding with the United Nations International day of Peace. Such ideas are part of the continuous teachings of the Great Sages of our time and the organisations contributing in this way are congratulated as they essentially seek to bring

the principles of Brotherhood back to this world.