The Second National Prayer Poetry Festival Will Be Held More Comprehensively Than Last Year in Kordestan

Ali Asghar Daryaei, in an interview with the reporter of Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Sanandaj, referring to the announcement of the call for the Second National Prayer Poetry Festival titled ‘Melody of Faith’, stated: This event is held with the aim of expanding the teachings of prayer, strengthening the bond between poetry and spirituality, and encouraging poets to create exquisite religious works.

He added, stating that poetry is one of the most effective artistic languages for expressing divine truths and concepts: Poetry can subtly and beautifully instill the message of prayer in the hearts of today’s generation.

Daryaei emphasized that the reception of the first edition showed that the capacity of poetry in promoting the culture of prayer is very extensive, adding: This year’s festival, compared to the previous one, has expanded both nationally and in terms of sections and topics to allow young poets, veterans, and social media activists to have a more prominent presence.

The Director-General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Kordestan Province added: Poetry has long played a decisive role in transferring spiritual concepts in Iranian and Kurdish culture, and we believe that the language of art can influence hearts more than ever in today’s society.

This official elaborated on the various sections of the festival, saying: This year, in addition to the general poetry section in classical, blank, and free forms, a special section has also been dedicated to works focusing on two prominent cultural and religious figures of Kordestan, Mullah Habibullah Moazi and Mullah Heydar Fahim. These figures are spiritual luminaries of the region, and attention to their heritage can provide a ground for a deeper connection of the younger generation with the cultural and religious history of Kordestan.

Daryaei also referred to the virtual space section and said: This section has been designed with an emphasis on producing spiritual content, prayer, and religious lifestyle so that media activists can also play a role.

He spoke about the themes of the works, stating: Topics such as prayer and mosque, the role of prayer in individual and social tranquility, the link between prayer and national security, social responsibility, raising a righteous generation, strengthening family foundations, national cohesion, and social hope are among the main themes of the festival.

The Director-General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Kordestan Province added: This range of topics allows poets to reflect prayer not only as an act of worship but also as a civilizing, ethics-oriented, and identity-forming concept in individual and collective life.

In another part of the interview, Daryaei discussed how to submit works, saying: Interested participants have the opportunity from December 1st to December 22nd, 2025, to register their works through the Kordestan Culture and Islamic Guidance Department’s system at kordestan.farhang.gov.ir. Also, for ease of participation, submission of works is possible via messengers to the number 09180502296.

According to him, the festival secretariat has planned that after specialized judging, the selected works, in addition to receiving a certificate of honor and cash prizes, will have the opportunity for publication and dissemination in the form of books or cultural media.

Daryaei, noting that improving the quality of works and supporting young literary talents are among the main policies of this festival, reminded: Efforts have been made to create a healthy competitive environment so that every poet at any level has the opportunity to be seen.

Daryaei expressed hope that the holding of this literary event will strengthen the production of religious poetry, redefine the role of art in transferring devotional concepts, and create cultural vitality in society.

The Director-General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Kordestan concluded by announcing: The closing ceremony of the Second National Prayer Poetry Festival will be held on December 31st, 2025, at the Cultural and Artistic Complex of the Kamyaran Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and the final results will be announced on the same day.

He invited all poets, artists, professors, and enthusiasts to contribute to promoting the culture of prayer and transmitting its teachings to future generations by submitting their works.