Kasaragod, Jan 5: Bela, a place known as the capital of Konkani speaking community in Kerala is all set to host Kavita Fest, the annual poetry festival hosted by Kavita Trust.

The daylong event contains poetry related activities scheduled to be held in the courtyard of Stany Bela here on Sunday, January 8.

Poets and poetry lovers belonging to the states of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala will take part in the event.

Eminent Konkani author and journalist Austine D Souza Prabhu will inaugurate the festival. Stany Bela, Konkani author, and Anwesha Singbal, president, KBM Goa will attend as guests of honours.

The programme will begin at 9 am with a procession accompanied by bands. The final round of Nelson and Lavina Rodrics, Cha Fra D Costa Memorial Poetry Recitation Competition will be held after the inaugural event.

Santhosh Perla, a renowned leader and a writer from the Konkani speaking community in Kerala will participate in an interactive session which will be held in the afternoon. Trustee of Kavita Trust and author William Pais will conduct the session.

A collection of poems titled 'Chiturleche Acche Din' by Wilson Kateel will be released on the occasion.

Prashanth Naik, president, Nirakar Education Society and former president, KBM, Goa will be the chief guest for the valedictory session. Rathnamala Divakar, author, lyricist and former vice-president, KBM and Gokulnath Prabhu, NRI entrepreneur will be the guests of honour. Same time poet Indu Ashok Gerusoppe will be honoured with Mathias Family Poetry Award. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a memento and a certificate.

Bela is a village situated in Kerala which represents the highest number of Konkani speaking people in Kerala. Though Malayalam is the state language the village still has a strong influence of Konkani language, art, and culture like coastal Karnataka and Goa. It is said that more than 25,000 Konkani speaking people are residing in various parts of Kasargod district which is a major share compared to other districts of Kerala.

Christians, Gowda Saraswatha Brahmins and Rama Saraswatha Brahmins are the major religious based communities who speak Konkani as mother tongue in Kerala, especially in Kasargod district.