The ninth edition of the Soul Scribers Galaxy Poetry Festival 2026, a three-day international literary celebration supported by the Rotary Club of Salem, concluded successfully in Secunderabad, Telangana, on July 12, 2026, bringing together poets, writers, and literary enthusiasts from across the country.
Curated by noted poet Geetanjali Dilip, the festival revolved around the theme that “Poetry Connects”, creating a vibrant platform for artistic expression, dialogue, and cultural exchange. The event witnessed the participation of 36 poets, who explored the universal symbolism of Spring through poetry recitations, panel discussions, individual presentations, music, and dance performances, fostering creativity, hope, renewal, and resilience.
A major highlight of the festival was the release of “Vernal Verses”, the fourth anthology in the Shimmering Seasons Series. The anthology features nearly 200 poems by 137 poets, presenting diverse perspectives on Spring as a metaphor for optimism, transformation, and human resilience.
The literary gathering also marked the release of 11 books by 10 authors. Senior poet Roopali Sircar Gaur released two books, while acclaimed poet and TEDx speaker Dr. Santosh Bakaya launched her 32nd book, “At Thirty Minutes Past One and Other Poems.”
Another significant moment of the festival was the presentation of the Dr. Kashinath Bakaya Award for Excellence in Humour 2026 to Avantika Vijay Singh for her book “Ridunkulous,” which was also released during the event.
The prestigious award has been instituted in memory of the eminent scholar Dr. Kashi Nath Bakaya by his sons, Mr. Vijay Bakaya, former Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, and Dr. Ashok Bakaya, an interventional cardiologist. Previous recipients of the award include Sudeshna Mukherjee, Avijit Sarkar, Ramendra Kumar, and Ushi Kak.
The ninth edition of the Soul Scribers Galaxy Poetry Festival once again reaffirmed poetry’s unique ability to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, inspiring dialogue, creativity, and meaningful human connections through the power of words.
