Media Release

Mangaluru, Jan 9: The Kavita Trust, which has significantly elevated the status of Konkani poetry, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. The festival is scheduled to take place at Mother Teresa Peace Park in St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) on January 11 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Anyone with a passion for the Konkani language is welcome to participate in this festival.

In the morning, a procession will commence from Tagore Park and proceed to Mother Teresa Peace Park. The inaugural session will feature Fr Praveen Martis, vice-chancellor of St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), alongside Prof Maria DeCosta as distinguished guests.

Throughout the day, the festival will include an interaction with Valli Vagga, the winner of the Mathias Family Poetry Award, poetry sessions featuring finalists from both the children’s and youth categories of the Biri Biri Pavs reality show, a poetry-based play presented by Ranga Adhyayan Kendra, Kavisandhi with Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award recipient Paresh Kamat, and an open poetry session.

The closing ceremony will be graced by Jnanpith Award laureate Damodar Mauzo, his wife and translator Shaila Mauzo, as well as Konkani writer and educator Francis D’Cunha. This occasion will also witness the presentation of the Dennis and Mary D'Cunha Memorial Best Poetry Book Award 2024 to Felcy Lobo, the Mathias Family Poetry Award to Vally Vagga, and the prize distribution to the winners of the Biri Biri Pavs poetry competition.