The 19th Razavi International Poetry Festival to be held in West Azerbaijan

Alireza Norouzi, in an interview with an IRNA (Iran Book News Agency) reporter in Urmia, stated that the 19th Razavi International Poetry Festival will be held in West Azerbaijan in the Azeri Turkish language. He said: The International Imam Reza (PBUH) Foundation, in cooperation with the Cultural Deputy of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the General Directorate of Culture and Islamic Guidance of West Azerbaijan, is organizing the 19th Razavi International Turkish-Azeri Poetry Festival.

He added: Those interested in participating in this festival can create works on the themes of Imam Reza’s (PBUH) personality, in the form of poetry in praise of various personal, social, political, spiritual, miraculous, and titular aspects of His character. In the Razavi teachings section, they can produce works expressing poetic descriptions of the themes from His pilgrimage texts, hadiths, and Razavi teachings.

Norouzi stated that there are no age restrictions for participants, adding: Participants can submit only five of their works to the festival secretariat.

He also mentioned that the closing ceremony of this festival will be held in the first week of Ordibehesht 1405 (April 2026) in West Azerbaijan. He said: Poets residing abroad can send their works via WhatsApp to the number 00989149682149.

The Director-General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of West Azerbaijan Province added: The deadline for submitting works to this festival is January 20th of the current year (30th of Dey). Poets must submit their poems in Azeri Turkish, and the poems must not have been previously accepted in any congress or festival.

Norouzi continued: In the judging process of this edition of the festival, in addition to the national and international section winners, one work that receives the highest score from the general public will be honored as a public choice award.

He added: Furthermore, works that reach the final judging stage will also be judged by the participants themselves, and this will be conditional on at least 50% of the participants casting their votes.

Referring to the prizes of this festival, Norouzi said: In the international section, the first place will receive the festival trophy, a certificate of appreciation, and 300 million Rials cash; the second place will receive the festival trophy, a certificate of appreciation, and 250 million Rials cash; the third place will receive the festival trophy, a certificate of appreciation, and 200 million Rials. In the national section, the first place will receive the festival trophy, a certificate of appreciation, and 200 million Rials cash; the second place will receive the festival trophy, a certificate of appreciation, and 150 million Rials; the third place will receive the festival trophy, a certificate of appreciation, and 100 million Rials; and the fourth place will receive the festival trophy, a certificate of appreciation, and 80 million Rials. In the public choice section, the festival trophy, a certificate of appreciation, and 20 million Rials cash prize will be awarded.