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World Poetry Day March 21, 2025: The UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) designated 21st March as “World Poetry Day” in its 30th General Conference held at Paris, from 26th October to 17th November 1999.
The resolution to celebrate 21st March as “World Poetry Day” was passed at the third plenary meeting of UNESCO on 27th October 1999 in Paris.
The decision was made at the end of the century with the view that, holding a worldwide event dedicated to poetry will encourage and support regional, national and international poetic movements, apart from promoting linguistic diversity.
World Poetry Day 2025
World Poetry Day is observed every year on March 21st, and in 2025, it falls on a Friday. This special day is dedicated to honoring poets, promoting the art of poetry, and encouraging people to express themselves through words.
To celebrate World Poetry Day 2025, various poetry events and competitions were organized, where both established and emerging poets participated. Renowned poets took the stage to share their inspiring and thought-provoking poetry, making the event a memorable experience for literature lovers. People engaged in poetry reading, writing, and recitations, creating an atmosphere filled with creativity and expression.
One of the highlights of the event was the recognition of Tialia Kikon, a talented poet from Nagaland, who was selected by the Writers International Network (WIN). Her poetry was displayed at the Moberly Arts & Culture Centre in Vancouver, Canada, marking her second feature at this prestigious event, with her first recognition in 2016.
When Is World Poetry Day Celebrated?
Though UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1999 made the declaration regarding celebrating 21st March as World Poetry Day, many counties have kept the tradition of celebrating their national or international poetry day coinciding with the birth day of an ancient Roman poet named ‘Publius Vergilius Maro’ a.k.a Virgil on 15th October.
The United Kingdom celebrates its National Poetry Day on first Thursday of October.
How is Poetry Important?
Poetry is a form of literature, which has been used since time immemorial to express human conditions, desire, culture, suffering etc and could also be used to encourage and inspire. It is a instrument which uses the rhythmic qualities of a language.
Poetry captures the creative side of and individual and helps him to express his personal experiences and inspire others in a rhythmic way. It has been an integral part of human civilization since ages; from hunting tribes in Africa to modern civilizations in Egypt all had been reading and writing poetry.
Poetry decreases the cultural gap by acting as a bridge between civilizations. It also acknowledges a particular culture and genre and helps in the preservation of both. It also acts as a natural stress buster when one takes to expressing his/her pain by writing poetry.
Why Is World Poetry Day Celebrated?
World Poetry Day is celebrated to acknowledge the role of poetry in every culture and every country of the planet. The day celebrates poetry as the most valuable asset of humane cultures and languages. Every civilization has been practicing some form of poetry which has been integrated into its language and has become an identity of that particular culture.
World Poetry Day also admires the role of poetry in bridging cultural differences and bringing communities closer. The day also commemorates the poets for speaking out on cultural and social issues through poetry; inspiring and encouraging millions.
By adopting 21st March as the “World Poetry Day” the UNESCO also admires the role poetry plays in promoting global peace and harmony.
The occasion of “World Poetry Day” also honors poets and brings back the old traditions of reciting poems, specific to a culture. It also encourages reading and writing of poetry and inspires its amalgamation with other art forms like – dance, music, theatre etc.
How Is World Poetry Day 2025 Celebrated?
On World Poetry Day, poets from across the world share their views, knowledge and works. Poetic events are organized, specific to a culture in which notable poets of that particular culture or language elaborate their work and express their views.
Many countries celebrate the World Poetry Day on 21st March. The celebrations in most countries commemorates regional poetry and poets, with varied audiences ranging from an individual to government agencies, non government organizations, members of civil society, poets, literature laureates, communities etc .
School and colleges around the world organize programs to let the students acknowledge the role of poetry in bridging cultural gaps and also to admire various poets and their efforts to keep the culture and languages alive through poetry.
Many schools dedicate a classroom lecture on poetry, during which the children are taught about different forms of poetry and also get to know different poets.
Poets are invited for talks and conferences are held at variety of places like – cafeterias, colleges, schools, auditoriums and stadiums etc. Poets even from across the borders are cordially invited to enrich people about their own books and also to express their views.
Awards are conferred to those who have contributed commendably in the field of poetry. Exhibitions are also organized at various locations, displaying the works by various national poets as well as poets from across the border.
Things To Do On World Poetry Day 2025
World Poetry Day is not a public holiday; even then it is celebrated across the world with much enthusiasm with participants ranging from notable poets to not much popular poets. Variety of audiences from commoners to notable persons takes part in the celebrations. Below are some methods in which you could celebrate “World Poetry Day”.
1) Read and Write
Read poetry and also try to write it. This way you will not only admire poetry but also be able to express yourself in a more entertaining and rhythmic way. Reading or writing a poetry will not only relieve your stress but also help you to connect to your roots.
2) Spread Awareness
Spread awareness about the poetry and its various advantages from bringing communities closer to preserving culture and languages. Enlighten someone you know, by telling about various forms and advantages of poetry. You could also gift your family and friend a book by your favorite poet or ask them to write their own poetry.
3) Attend The Event
Keep a look out for any gathering organized on “World Poetry Day”. Take out some time to attend the event and to listen to what poets have to say about their works, cultures etc. Try to communicate with people and poets present, to know more about poetry and its forms.
4) Visit Exhibition
Visit the exhibition/s in your city to know about various poets and their works. Poetry exhibitions will also make you familiar to the work of poets from across the world and make you admire their work and efforts. You will also feel getting closer to other cultures across the world and also admire them.
5) Donate
There could be a poet or a publishing house in your locality which is struggling from the unavailability of funds. You can donate as per your will contributing into their revival and bringing them back on track. Donating for poetry is like donating to save your own culture and language and ensuring their longevity.
World Poetry Day Theme 2025
World Poetry Day 2025, observed on March 21, highlights the power of poetry in fostering peace, cultural inclusion, and human connection.
With the theme “Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion,” this year’s celebration emphasizes how poetry transcends borders, unites diverse communities, and expresses deep emotions. Established by UNESCO in 1999, World Poetry Day promotes linguistic diversity and the preservation of endangered languages through poetic expression.
The day will feature educational programs, literary events, and global initiatives to honor poets, encourage creative writing, and publish works in lesser-known languages. Poetry serves as a powerful tool to promote understanding, empathy, and cultural exchange, making it an essential part of our shared human experience. Whether through live readings, community poetry gatherings, or digital platforms, World Poetry Day 2025 invites everyone to celebrate the art of words and its role in building a more inclusive and peaceful world.
World Poetry Day Themes (Previous Years)
The events of an occasion revolve around the central theme that is assigned to it. ‘Theme’ sets an objective for the organizers, participants and audiences. Any topic relevant to the main issue is picked up as ‘theme’ for a national, international or regional event.
Many countries celebrating ‘National Poetry Day’ assign themes for the day, but UNESCO not necessarily assigns themes on “World Poetry Day”; however, that doesn’t deter the enthusiasm of UNESCO and its associates in promoting poetry worldwide.
- World Poetry Day Theme of 2017 – “Freedom”.
- World Poetry Day Theme of 2018 – “Change”
- World Poetry Day Theme of 2021 – “to honor all those acclaimed poets who have dedicated their lives to create literary works of art”
- World Poetry Day Theme of 2022 – “The Environment”
- World Poetry Day Theme of 2023 – “Always be a poet, even in prose”
- World Poetry Day Theme of 2024 – “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.”
FAQs on World Poetry Day
How do we celebrate World Poetry Day?
World Poetry Day is celebrated worldwide on March 21 with poetry festivals, live readings, literary events, and online discussions. People share their favorite poems and poets on social media, attend community poetry gatherings, and explore poetry from different cultures.
What day is National Poetry Day?
National Poetry Day in the U.K. is observed on a Thursday in late September or early October. It is an annual celebration dedicated to inspiring people to read, write, and engage with poetry.
What is the theme for World Poetry Day 2025?
The World Poetry Day 2025 theme is Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion, emphasizing how poetry connects cultures, fosters harmony, and promotes global understanding. This theme highlights poetry’s role in breaking barriers and bringing people together.
What role does UNESCO play in World Poetry Day?
UNESCO leads World Poetry Day by promoting global literary initiatives, encouraging the publication of poetry in lesser-known languages, and providing social media toolkits to increase awareness. The organization emphasizes poetry’s power in education, peace-building, and cultural preservation.
Why is World Poetry Day celebrated?
World Poetry Day, observed on March 21, was established by UNESCO in 1999 to recognize the importance of poetry in linguistic diversity, cultural heritage, and creative expression. The day encourages people to appreciate poetry, celebrate poets, and support endangered languages through poetic works.
