Hasya Kavi Sammelan exceeds expectations

Suresh Bodiwala

CHICAGO: The Uttar Pradesh Association of Greater Chicago (UPA) held its annual Hindi Hasya Kavi Sammelan at Ashiyana banquet hall in Downers Grove, which was a huge success with over 400 plus members and guests from over Chicagoland and outside attending the event.

This is a signature event of UP Association which is organized every year in close collaboration with International Hindi Association (IHA). UPA invites acclaimed poets from India to promote richness of Hindi, our national language. Three famous poets, Sarvesh Asthana, Gaurav Sharma and Dr. Sonroopa Vishal, currently on tour of United States and Canada, entertained the audience with Hasya, Vyang and Geet poetry.

The Kavis’ were a perfect combination. Asthana’s comic poetry and Sharma’s two liners kept the audience roaring in laughter. Dr Vishal mesmerized the audience with her Geet and Ghazals in her melodious voice. The performances by three poets were outstanding and the hall echoed with loud laughter and clapping. Dr Vishal’s Geet/Ghazals on love and family relationship and importance of women in shaping our society filled the hearts with pride and she received standing ovation.

Welcoming the attendees, Dr Subhash Pandey, Chairman for the Board of Trustees of the Association, highlighted the Association’s history and accomplishments. He said that UP Association since its inception has engaged in promoting Hindi by organizing several successful Kavi Sammelans and introduced poets one by one. He thanked immediate past president of UPA, Vivek Varma and his team for their dedication and an outstanding service. He then introduced and welcomed newly elected president Mrs Taruna Gupta,

Mrs Gupta thanked the organization for giving this opportunity to serve Indian community of Chicago in promoting Indian culture and most importantly, the UP state of India. Dr Pandey also invited Guest of Honor OP Meena, Consul and head of chancery. Meena appreciated the association’s outstanding work in promoting Hindi and also welcomed visiting poets from India and their work in literature. He also announced the plan of the Consulate for the celebration of International Yoga Day on June 16 at Millenium Park and invited everyone to attend.