Poetry Festival in Toronto, Canada

Canadian time local time, "Toronto Poetry Festival 2024" took place on Saturday in the sunny, open Taylor Creek Park at 260 Dodge Road, modeled after the world-renowned Hay Literature Festival. 

Bengali and English-speaking poets and reciters participated in it. Visitors enjoy poetry from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. in a very informal natural environment, choosing the shade of the isolated trees of the park and sitting in any place of their choice.

The program started with the national anthems of Bangladesh and Canada. At the beginning of the festival, poet Kazi Helal, one of the organizers of the festival, expressed his assurance that the Toronto Poetry Festival will be held every year. 

Poetry in the Bengali language was recited on the occasion by famous poets living in Toronto, free reciters, and the popular Toronto recitation group Anyaswar and Bachnik. Poems in English were read by Canada's 7th Poet Laureate George Eliot Clarke, Poet Rocco Di Giacomo, Poet Richard Greene, and Poet Giovanna Ricco.

In Bangabandhu's study, Bangla Academy award-winning poet Saifullah Mahmud Dulal, poet Sultana Shirin Saji, poet Atwar Rahman, and Rashed Shawon, along with poet Jamil Raihan, who came from Bangladesh, read poetry in Bangla.

Journalist and writer Sumon Rahman, Subrata Kumar Das, and others discussed poetry and literature. The recitalists Dilara Nahar Babu, Asif Chowdhury, Ittela, Shapla Shaluq and other popular recitalists attended the recital.