The Nepal Chapter of the Traditional Poetry Writers Association of the World (TPWAW) hosted the fourth general conference on traditional poetry in Kathmandu. The two-day event started on April 16 under the banner ‘Advancement of human culture and world through the exchange of traditional poetry.’
The conference agenda includes opening addresses, congratulatory speeches, greetings, country papers, musical performances, and visits to heritage sites. Selected poets will also present their traditional poetry. Additionally, there will be cultural presentations from each participating country, an art exhibition, and poetry recitations.
Nepal not only boasts natural beauty but also a rich cultural tapestry reflected in its poetic expressions. Various poetic genres thrive within Nepali folklore, including Jhyaure, Muktak, Silok Ghansi, Dohori, Dhamari, and Roila. Furthermore, Nepal holds a significant legacy of traditional poetry in the Sanskrit tradition, characterized by its development, structure, and beauty.
Ram Kumar Panday, President of TPWAW Nepal Chapter, describes Nepal as “the headquarters of peace, paradise, poems, and rhymes,” noting the chanting of one of the oldest poems in the Himalayas since the era of the Siva civilization. He highlights the pervasive role of poetry in Nepali life, from daily recitations of mantras to its presence in fairs, festivals, ceremonies, and religious and social rituals throughout the month.
Panday acknowledges Nepal’s potential as a research hub for various aspects of traditional poetry but points out the dearth of research on Nepali poets and poems. He extends an invitation to researchers to delve into Nepal’s poetic traditions and explore the poetic essence of the Himalayas.
“We can collaborate on a traditional poetry research program with colleges across the globe,” he suggests. “To educate the next generations, we can write books on prosody.” Panday expresses the TPWAW Nepal Chapter’s interest in translating traditional poems from various countries into Nepali. “We seek, search, and share Nepal’s traditional poetic heritage, working towards the preservation and promotion of the cultural intrinsic value of Nepali poetry,” he adds.
TPWAW, initially formed through collaboration between China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Singapore, the UK, and the USA, saw South Korea take the initiative in promoting traditional poetry globally in 2007. Nepal joined the association later on in 2013.
The series of international conferences began in 2013 in South Korea, followed by events in China in 2016 and the UK in 2019.
