Great Poetry Reading Day 2023: Someone once said that words are humanity’s greatest weapons, and National Today will observe Great Poetry Reading Day on April 28 to recognise the truth of this statement. Poetry, as a branch of literature, provides us with a means to express our thoughts and emotions by weaving words into simple and/or complex patterns using techniques such as rhyme, metre, metaphors, etc. Similar to prose, poetry also tells a narrative, and in this case, it can do so simply by using a specific number of words in a row or punctuation placement. In the past, if you were a poet, you used poetry to settle scores with your competitors and achieve greater renown. Kings and queens would designate a poet to their court to sing their praises and degrade their adversaries.
HISTORY OF GREAT POETRY READING DAY
Although it is unclear when the first Great Poetry Reading Day was observed, it remains a highly celebrated occasion, with many honouring it by hosting and attending poetry reading events such as open mic evenings. Poetry, in its most fundamental form, is one of the oldest art forms, predating literacy. In ancient times, it was used to convey historical information, culture, and traditions. Because poetry has specific structures, it is simpler to memorise and recall, facilitating the transmission of messages from generation to generation. In contrast, literary prose emerged much later because it not only required literacy but also presented ideas in complex text forms.
Poetry utilised selected words, rhymes, meanings, and metre when it was recorded on stones, monoliths, or merely in human memory. A brief timeline of poetry forms reveals that after being memorised between 2500 and 2000 B.C., poetry began to be written in epic forms, which are lengthy narrative poems. Beginning between 11 and 7 B.C., poetry appeared in ballads as well. A little further into the future, sonnets were written in the thirteenth century, and four centuries later, restoration and modern poetry appeared.
The “Epic of Gilgamesh” is believed to be the earliest known example of poetry. In 2100 B.C., it was inscribed on tablets that were later used to construct city walls. Other ancient epics include Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey” and India’s “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” (both of which are significant in Indian mythology). In the same way that Indian mythology is portrayed in epic poetry forms, other religions also use poetry to create hymns and mantras that are recited during large public gatherings. As the years progressed, poetry became a means of self-expression and resistance to oppression. In the modern era of the Internet, Instagram poets have emerged as a distinct subgenre. Numerous unrecognised or novice poets use the platform to disseminate their visual poems.
HOW TO Observe National Poetry Reading Day
Read verse
Poetry is an excellent method to become immersed in a narrative while reading structured verses. Feeling the impact of words through their structure or patterns contributes to their musical quality. Appreciate the art by participating in it.
Write poetry
Put on your literary hat and give poetry a shot! You can write about anything, including a significant event in your life, your aspirations for the future, or even a peach! Yes, there are poems about peaches, and now you can add yours to the collection extolling the fruit’s extraordinary qualities.
Take part in a poetry engagement.
If you are still uncertain about any of the aforementioned options, you can participate in an online or offline poetry event. Observe and listen to the recitations of others before deciding if it is for you.
Koningsdag 2023: Date, History, Activities and Facts
FIVE MUHAMMAD IQBAL FACTS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
Brains behind Pakistan
Muhammad Iqbal, a renowned poet and philosopher, had the idea of creating a separate country for Muslims in India, where they encountered constant discrimination.
Persian trumps Urdu
Muhammad Iqbal preferred Persian over Urdu for his poetic works because he believed that Urdu provided superior articulation.
German highway bearing his name
Iqbal, who also completed his doctoral studies in Germany, has a street in Heidelberg named after him: Iqbal Ufer.
In 1922, King George bestowed upon Iqbal the honorific “Sir.”
Word-based instruction
Iqbal wrote “Khizr-e-Rah” (“The Guide”) and “Bang-e-Dara” (“Call of the Marching Bell”) after World War I to assist and guide people, particularly Muslims, out of trauma and tragedy.
WHY WE Adore Excellent Poetry READING DAY
It is a celebration of humanity
Poetry excels at bringing human emotions to life through the power of language. It would not be incorrect to refer to poetry as “Songs of the Soul” because it frequently addresses the essence of what it means to be human and to experience as humans do.
It is a celebration of imagination.
When neither technology nor scribes were available to record historical events, humans resorted to memorization. And to make it easier, poetry and its elements, such as rhythms, were developed. While it is true that necessity is the mother of invention, creativity is the instrument used to make inventions.
It is a celebration of the past and the present.
In antiquity, from the deserts of the Middle East to the icy foothills of Europe, poets fought one another using poetry. The winning poet received both fame and monetary recompense. Today, rap conflicts are identical to those of the past; it’s remarkable how traditions can survive from one era to the next.
GREAT POETRY READING DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 28 | Friday |
| 2024 | April 28 | Sunday |
| 2025 | April 28 | Monday |
| 2026 | April 28 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | April 28 | Wednesday |
