BY PRADEEP TANDON

NEW YORK (TIP): The magic of Hindi poetry was seen in the “Hasya Kavi Sammelan” of UP Association of New York. The auditorium at Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School in Oakland Gardens, New York reverberated with laughter and applause on Saturday evening, May 20 2023. The occasion was the ‘Hasya Kavi Sammelan’ organized by the Uttar Pradesh Association of New York. In the jam-packed auditorium, the audience delved into the sea of laughter and emotion on the recitation of four imminent, renowned poets from India. Dr. BK Mehta, President of Akhil Vishwa Hindi Samiti New York, former National President of International Hindi Association, Major Sher Bahadur Singh, President of New York Chapter Mrs. Kamla Panchal, Hindi lover and philanthropist Indrajit Sharma and President of Uttar Pradesh Association of New York Pradeep Tandon inaugurated the event by lamp lighting ceremony; with the chanting of Mantras by Pandit Ram Niwas Dixit, the priest of the Hindu Center. Saraswati Vandana was performed by Esha Mishra in a beautiful Kathak dance performance. Smt. Sushma Kaushik, President of Bharatiya “Pravasi” Sahitya Sangam, started the Kavi Sammelan with the recitation of a poem by her father late Dr. Om Prakash “Pravasi”, the founder of her organization. On this occasion, international poet Padma Shri Surendra Sharma was honored with ‘Kavikul Shiromani Samman’, Mr. Ramesh Muskan was awarded ‘Vyangya Bhushan Samman’, renowned poetess of ‘Shringar Ras’, Dr. Anu Sapan was awarded ‘Shabd Sadhna Samman’ for her poetic talent and Mr. Chirag Jain was honored with ‘Sarthak Srijan Samman’. Despite the heavy rains the Kavi Sammelan was attended by more than 440 persons. There was tea and snacks in the beginning and sumptuous dinner after the ‘Kavi Sammelan’. The poets recited poems for about three hours, reminding the audience of Indian culture and India. Kavi Sammelan started with humor and sarcasm of Ramesh Muskan. Dr. Anu Sapan recited her poems of ‘Shringar Ras’ in her beautiful melodic voice. Chirag Jain was at his best with his mischievous and emotional poems. Padma Shri Surender Sharma enthralled the audience with his comic talent, as well as his special poem ‘Radha-Krishna’.
The president of the Uttar Pradesh Association of New York, Mr. Pradeep Tandon coordinated the entire program.Dr.Usha Tandon proposed the vote of thanks. The Kavi-Sammelan was a great success, due to the hard work of all the members of the association. The audience congratulated Pradeep Tandon by saying that such a ‘Kavi Sammelan’ has never happened before in New York.