Sixteen poets of various corners of the world, including India, have sailed on the Ganga and recited poems on rivers on the last day of an International Poetry Festival organised here.
Barbara Pogacnik of Slovenia read out a poem about a mythical boat and an encounter while Macedonian poet Vladimir Martinovski chanted a poem which narrated how a river mirrored the journey of human beings through centuries.
Indian poet Arun Kamal recited 'Ganga ko Pyar (Love for Ganga)' and its English translation wowed the audience of poets during the voyage on Sunday evening.
The audience also included a select group of poetry lovers.
The event was part of the Chair Poetry Evenings organised by the Chair Literary Trust.
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Martinovski said, "Being on the Ganga is indeed spiritual.... water and poetry are entwined."
Belgium poet Mirium Van hee stated that this cruise possibly might inspire her towards a new poem.
"Social media lacks physical dimensions of human relationships that is fulfilled in wonderful festivals like these. The river cruise was a very evocative experience that cannot be fathomed at once," French poet Yekta said.
Pogacnik said, "Chair poetry Evenings has been a marvellous festival connecting diverse nationalities through boundaries. For me the cruise was like a meditation, the vastness of the Ganga cannot be grasped at once."
The three-day poetry festival was inaugurated on November 23 in the city.
Indian poet Subodh Sarkar, who read out a poem Exile, said while Bengali and Indian language poets had embarked on such cruises in the past, a gathering of so many poets of various countries on a boat was unique.
A Founder of Chair Poetry Evenings, Sonnet Mondal said, there had been poetry on cruise in Macedonia and in Istanbul, but it was unique here.
The poetry meet was held from November 23 to 25.
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