Kavi sammelan

Kavi Sammelan (Hindi: कवि सम्मेलन) is a gathering of poets in Hindi-speaking belts of northern India. The participants recite their poetry to each other and have a general discussion of literary issues. This may take place among the poets but is mostly done before an audience. Kavi sammelan specifically dedicated to comedy (Hāsya) and hindi satire("Vyangya") are known Hasya Kavi Sammelan.

Although small kavi-sammelan gatherings have been in existence since time immemorial, the first grand kavi sammelan was organized in the year 1920, which included many poets and large audiences. After that, kavi sammelan has become a large part of Indian culture. The Mushaira of Urdu poery gave rise to the modern Hindi Kavi Sammelan, and 'Mushaira cum Kavi Sammelan' is organised throughout the Hindustani speaking world.

In India, the period from Indian independence in 1947 to the early 1980s was a golden phase for kavi sammelan. From the mid-1980s up to the late 1990s, the Indian population, and especially its youth, was suffering from issues such as unemployment. This took its toll on kavi sammelan, as did newer modes of entertainment such as television and the internet, as well as the quantity of Indian cinema releases. Kavi sammelans had started losing their standing in Indian culture, both in terms of quantity and quality.

In the era before economic liberalization(1991), kavi sammelans were a popular part of everyday life. They were often broadcast on the state-owned Doordarshan TV network. Post-liberalization, with increasing westernization and proliferation of electronic media, the frequency of such gatherings has reduced. One good trend that has been observed in Kavi-Sammelan is that, it has taken its roots in other countries too. With its increasing frequency across the globe. Moreover, now many Indian television channels giving airtime to programmes based on Hindi poetry recitations like Wah! Wah! Kya Baat Hai!, Kavi-Sammelan have got a fresh breath of life with increased audience base and liking.

Kavi Sammelan literally means a gathering of poets. The traditional format of a kavi sammelan has a Sanchalak (anchor) and a few poets. The number of total poets vary from three to twenties and even thirty. In the traditional format, all the poets sit on a mattress on the stage. The mattress is decorated by flowers, and traditional cylindrical pillows are kept for each poet. There is one standing mike, and one sitting mike. The sitting mike is kept in front of the Sanchalak. He introduces the whole team to the audiences, and then calls the poets one by one. These poets come to the standing mike and recite their poems to the audiences. The order of recitation is generally from most junior to the most senior poet. Most of the traditional kavi sammelan have 7–12 poets.Solo poetry recitations are also sometimes referred to as kavi sammelans (although the term 'kavi sammelan' literally means a 'gathering of poets'). The positioning of Kavi-Sammelans have come out of the traditional set-up. Although it is a matter of discussion among the experts that whether the change in format of Kavi-Sammelan is an up-gradation or a down-gradation, most poets have adopted the changes in the format.

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