TEHRAN-The poetry section of the 21st edition of Imam Reza (AS) International Festival will be hosting a series of educational workshops and literary gatherings; the organizers have announced. 

The specialized poetry section of the festival has meticulously planned a range of side programs, featuring educational workshops and national and international literary gatherings, the director of the festival Farhad Qaemian announced during a press conference held in Tehran on Tuesday.

The poetry section itself is comprised of four distinct categories, including Persian, Azeri, Arabic, and a dedicated section for children and youth poetry, he explained. 

A series of seven educational workshops and poetry gatherings, boasting the participation of esteemed poets specializing in Persian verse, are among the highlights of the festival's Persian poetry section, while four informative educational workshops will be held across four provinces in children and youth poetry festival, he added. 

Meanwhile, for the Azeri poetry festival, six workshops and literary gatherings have been orchestrated, he noted. 

Additionally, prominent literary figures will lead six workshops and literary gatherings across six provinces as part of the Arabic poetry festival, he stated. 

Qaemian also mentioned the holding of international gatherings for these festivals and said: “Afghanistan has been designated as the host for the international gatherings of the Persian poetry festival, while Basra and Najaf will play host to the international gatherings of the Arabic poetry festival.”

“Kirkuk in Iraq and Istanbul will serve as the vibrant locations for the Azeri poetry gatherings, brimming with cultural exchange and artistic fervor,” he concluded. 

The Imam Reza (AS) International Festival is held annually in various provinces of the country as well as in several other countries.

This festival encompasses various fields such as articles, plays or screenplays, produced shows, stories, visual arts, books, literary texts, poetry, press and digital works, and radio and television productions.

The festival will come to an end in Mashhad on May 19, 2024 that marks the birthday of Imam Reza (AS).

SAB/