Words and reflections: Five poetry events to delight in over the coming weeks

Most of the poetry events are being conducted online, but there are a few venues hosting live sessions in the city clubs. Photo: iStock

As we walk out into a post-lockdown world, the pre-pandemic art and entertainment activities that always kept the city's clubs and streets buzzing are gradually making a come-back. From DJ nights to open mics, people are on the lookout for events to socialise or hang out at and in a way reconnect with their pre-pandemic lives.

Poetry meet-ups are one of those occasions that people who love to write poems, or are into literature, are looking forward to attending. While most of the events are still being conducted online, there are a few venues hosting live poetry and storytelling sessions.

You can mark your calendars for these five poetry events (virtual and offline) happening between October 18 and October 31:

Of Kolatkar and Kala Ghoda

The Asiatic Society of Mumbai will be organising a virtual poetry event, ‘Kala Ghoda Poems Crawl: A virtual tour of Mumbai's Kala Ghoda area'. The virtual walk will be led by the works of celebrated poet Arun Kolatkar, who is known for weaving the local culture of Bombay into his poems. The session will offer the viewers a chance to view the artistic Kala Ghoda area through poetic reflections of Bombay and its dynamic culture. Presenter Saranya Subramanian, who is passionate about poetry and city walks, will be conducting the hour-long virtual walk.

Date: October 18

Time: 6 pm

Venue: Zoom session

Registration fee: Free

Verses in Hindi and English

Attending ‘DiGi Open Mic-Poetry and Storytelling', a seemingly thrilling session with poets and storytellers, could be the perfect way to conclude October, the month of arts. The Mental Talkies will be conducting a virtual open mic event for poetry and storytelling in both English and Hindi languages.

Date: October 30

Time: 8 pm

Venue: Zoom session (Registration on Book My Show)

Registration fee: Rs 39 onwards

Get lyrical every fortnight

Organised by the Big Mic, the Cuckoo club will be hosting an open mic poetry session with 15 poets in the last week of October. The group has held poetry events in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai over the last six years. Moreover, the live poetry sessions at the Cuckoo club are a fortnightly event. If you have missed joining poetry meet-ups, this is something you need to reserve your Sunday for.

Date: October 24

Time: 5 pm to 7.30 pm

Venue: Cuckoo Club, Bandra West

Registration fee: Rs 150 onwards

Life, unfiltered and in poetic metre

The Hooted1ce will be hosting a poetry open mic session at Bandra's Dorangos. Hosted by Deeksha Pandey the platform will give a chance to anyone who wishes to showcase their writing talents in terms of poetry or everyday life stories.

Date: October 19

Time: 7.30 pm

Venue: Dorangos, Bandra West

Registration fee: Rs 229

Calling suburban balladeers

Kasa Kai Mumbai is a city-based community building platform encouraging people to gather over chai and discuss art, popular culture, books and the internet. The group is organising an open mic session for poets, storytellers and singers at Andheri, one of the busiest suburban locations. Those in and around Andheri must take a break and grab this opportunity to indulge in art and leisure activity with fellow Mumbaikars.

Date: October 22

Time: 7 pm

Venue: Redbrick, Andheri

Registration fee: Rs 200

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