International Haiku Poetry Day 2025 in Nepal

April 17, Lalitpur Nepal

International Haiku Day is celebrated worldwide with various activities focused on Haiku Literature and festivals on April 17 each year. In Nepal, Newa Haiku Khya (नेवा: हाइकु ख्य:) and Pratibha Samaaj (Society) jointly organized yet another special Haiku Recital event, participated by 49 poets from various districts within the valley including a few Nepalbhasa poets from abroad.

The event highlighted native language – #Nepalbhasa – and thus all Haiku written and recited were themed as the Newah Haiku Recital Program, where the poets recited 5 original Haiku each that were selected out of 10 each submitted to the organizing committee about a week ago.

The event was inaugurated by Chairman of the event, President of Pratibha Samaaj, an eminent Buddhist Studies Scholar and writer, Dr. Bajra Raj Shakya. Dr. Shakya spoke on how much efforts is required to express one’s life experiences in the form of disciplined text structures. Emphasizing the value of a good Haiku, he opined, “There is one state where our mind is connected with the form of taste, words, and smell, while there is another state of consciousness free from it, which is non-physical. Bringing this into a brief Haiku, is a true expression of joy which we all can feel in the “Old Pond” by famous Matsuo Basho.”

Mr. Suresh Pradhan, President of Newa Haiku Khya, expressed joy in noticing the growth of Haiku writers in Nepalbhasa since its establishment. “Within this fifth year of our beginning, we have growth in both old and new Haiku writers in Nepalbhasa,” he said, “We have collaborated with Lumibini Budhhist University, Nepalbhasa Manka Khala Yala in the past and are happy to be organizing this special event to mark international haiku day for second time with equal enthusiastic participation.”

The event was addressed by the Dean of Lumbini Buddhist University, Dr. Manik Ratna Shakya, who highlighted the impact of previous collaboration in publication of Haiku themed on “Buddha and Peace”. He highlighted the sensitive nature of poets as pure nature lovers. “Haiku, being brief with depth of expression, is a reflection of natural happiness in condensing one’s view and life experiences,” he said.
“However, gradual decline in happiness and health due to growing unhealthy consumption lifestyle, therefore, writers need to create impact by not just addressing the current issues but also provoking solution-oriented oriented actionable thoughts.”

The recited Haiku were analyzed and commented upon by Dr. Pushpa Raj Rajkarnikar, Vice Chancellor of Nepalbhasa Academy, Nepal. Dr. Rajkarnikar, elaborating on the styles, expressions, and potential meanings of the Haiku recited emphasized that a good Haiku must be felt by its audience and leave an impact of the depth expressed through it.

The welcome note of the event was delivered by poet Sakya Suren, while other eminent speakers of the event were Mr. Kiran Narsing Shakya, Secretary General of Pratibha Samaaj, and Mr. Kiran Shakya, legal advisor as well as a poet. The event held at Satoaki Memorial Building, Kupondol next to Hotel Himalaya was anchored by Poet Purnima Shakya– Treasurer of Newa Haiku Khya. Coordinator of the event, Mr. Dil Bahadur Chitrakar “Tuyu: Pun:” gave away the vote of thanks to the audience that included senior novelist Mr. Kedar Situ, Mr. Badan Sharma – Executive Editor of Thayebhu literature magazine, President of Birat Nepalbhasa Literature Convention Guthi, Mr. Mahendra Gopal Karmacharya, Nepalbhasa Manka Khala Yala President Hirakaji Maharjan.

Although the event was conducted in Nepalbhasa and Nepalese, should you be interested in taking a peek, please visit the Facebook live link.