Curtain goes up on global poetry fest 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 11th edition of Kritya International Poetry Festival began on Thursday with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lighting ‘akshara vilakku’, a lamp made with inscription of letters in different languages, at Bharat Bhavan, here.

“Progressive writers and poets have made crucial contribution in evolving Kerala model of development. Their fight against feudalism have helped the state reach present condition,” the  Chief Minister said.
According to him, the biggest challenge faced by writers was the change of focus of public from literature to visual media. However, poetry has largely unaffected from this trend, he said.

The theme of the three-day festival is ‘Poetry against Xenophobia and racism’. Poet, writer and managing trustee, Raza Foundation,  Ashok Vajpeyi  presided over the function. Turkish poet Ataol Behramoglu, Estonian poet Doris Kareva, Bas Kwakman,  Festival Director Rati Saxena, member secretary of Bharat Bhavan Pramod Payyannur attended the function.