With the unprecedented welcome of officials, poets, writers, and enthusiasts of poetry and literature: The closing ceremony of the first “Leisure and Book” City Festival was held in Semnan.

According to Khabaronline News Agency, Semnan Province, the closing ceremony of the first “Leisure and Book” City Festival was held in Semnan at the conference hall of Semnan Central Library. The event was attended by Professor Gholamreza Tarighi, Director General of the Office of Literature, Poetry, and Persian Language of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance; Mehdi Aghabarari, Deputy Governor for Political and Security Affairs of Semnan Province; Reza Abdollahzadeh, Deputy Governor for Management Development and Resources of Semnan Province; Mehdi Shahab, Director General of the Office of Social and Cultural Affairs of Semnan Province; Saeed Dehghanloo, Director General of Public Libraries of Semnan Province; Mehdi Samimian, Governor of Semnan County; Hossein Ziari, Director General of the Office of Planning, Budget, and Administrative Transformation of the Governorate; Seyed Hassan Shahcheragh, Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs of Semnan Province; Ghasem Sharifi, Director General of Education of Semnan Province; Seyed Rasoul Mousavinejadian, Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Semnan Province; Hossein Golhashem, Head of the Cultural, Sports, and Social Commission of the Islamic City Council of Semnan, and a group of poets, writers, and enthusiasts of Persian poetry and literature.

Saeed Dehghanloo, Director General of Public Libraries of Semnan Province, at this ceremony, while appreciating the presence of Professor Tarighi, the renowned ghazal poet of the country and Director General of the Office of Literature, Poetry, and Persian Language of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and other prominent poets present at the ceremony, stated: “The General Directorate of Public Libraries of the province carries out numerous programs in line with its mission to honor books and reading. The ‘Leisure and Book’ festival is one of these activities, formed with the aim of promoting the culture of poetry reading and the use of noble Persian literature in Semnan Province, and we intend to continue this festival on a broader scale and turn it into a movement.”

The Director General of Semnan Public Libraries further described the province as a cradle for nurturing great scholars, luminaries, and dignitaries, and while thanking all participants in this festival, said: “Many efforts have been made in this regard by the colleagues of the General Directorate and the secretary of this festival, Mr. Naser Hamedi, which are highly valuable and commendable.”

He concluded by referring to the remarks of Mohammad Reza Tarighi, the renowned ghazal poet of Iran, and noted that public libraries are the primary origin and venue for all literary circle activities in all cities and villages. He added: “Fortunately, today we see these circles have formed and continue in many public libraries, and their continuity and quality should be enhanced day by day.”

It is worth mentioning that in this ceremony, Professor Tarighi, the renowned ghazal poet of the country, along with all the winners of this festival, recited their poems and verses, which were well-received. The top participants were introduced as follows:

In the general section of this festival, Mitra Sadat Dehghani took first place, Sahar Hadian second place, and Fatemeh Adib third place.

And in the special section of this festival, Sahar Jourablu took second place, and Somayeh Salehi third place. (This section had no first-place winner)

During this ceremony, Pouya Parhiz, a young critic and active member of the Neyestan literary circle of Semnan County; Jafar Seyed, a veteran of culture and art of Semnan Province; and Anahita Aghabeygi, secretary of the Neyestan literary circle of Semnan County, were also honored.

Honoring Naser Hamedi as the festival secretary, and Hassan Yaqoubi and Nayerah Kashi as the judges of this festival, was another part of the program.

In the concluding section of this ceremony, Nasteran Ghoodrati, a veteran poet from Semnan, was also celebrated.