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Entries for the inter-school essay competition close on 27 November. Rules and age groups are on the Activities page.
Sahitya Bharati A home for Marathi readers and writers

Activities and publications

Events, awards and competitions, the annual issue, magazine subscription, gallery and press clippings.

Events, awards and competitions

This year’s programme (2026)

  1. Monsoon book sale

    Courtyard, Sahitya Bharati Bhavan

    Cancelled

  2. Lecture: translating Kannada stories into Marathi

    Vasant Smriti Sabhagriha, Station Road

    Lecture

  3. Abhang evening at Ganesh Talav

    Open-air stage, Ganesh Talav

    Poetry gathering

  4. Book discussion: “Gharkul” by Madhav Joshi-Bapat

    Reading room, Sahitya Bharati Bhavan, Tilak Path

    Event

  5. Kavi Katta: open poetry evening

    Reading room, Sahitya Bharati Bhavan, Tilak Path

    Poetry gathering

  6. Lecture: how the Marathi novel changed after 1960

    Vasant Smriti Sabhagriha, Station Road

    Lecture

  7. Release of the Diwali Ank 2026

    Vasant Smriti Sabhagriha, Station Road

    Event

  8. Workshop: writing stories for readers aged 8 to 12

    Reading room, Sahitya Bharati Bhavan, Tilak Path

    Workshop

Awards

Shabdagandh Award for a first book of poems

Recipient: Ketaki Sawant

Presented on 29 August 2026

Given each year to a poet’s first published collection. ₹25,000 and a citation.

Kathakar Prize for short fiction

Recipient: Aniruddha Lele

Presented on 29 August 2026

For the collection “Shevatchi Gadi”. ₹15,000 and a citation.

Award for lifetime work in Marathi teaching

Recipient: Kusum Phadtare

Presented on 29 August 2026

For a teacher who has taught Marathi in the district’s schools for at least twenty-five years.

Young Reviewer Award

Recipient: Om Karmarkar, Class 11

Presented on 29 August 2026

For the best book review by a student under 18. The review is printed in the Diwali Ank.

Competitions

Inter-school essay competition

Students of classes 5 to 10, in three age groups

This year’s topic is “A book that changed my mind”. Essays of 600 to 1,200 words in Marathi, handwritten or typed, sent through the school.

  • Entries open 8 October 2026
  • Last date for entries: 27 November 2026
  • Results on 6 January 2027

Short story competition for college students

Undergraduate and postgraduate students in Maharashtra

Unpublished stories in Marathi, up to 3,000 words. The three best stories will be printed in next year’s Diwali Ank.

  • Entries open 10 October 2026
  • Last date for entries: 12 December 2026
  • Results on 26 January 2027

Kavi Katta recitation contest

Open to everyone aged 16 and above

Recite one of your own poems in under four minutes at the January Kavi Katta. Three poets from outside Ketakigaon will judge.

  • Entries open 23 October 2026
  • Last date for entries: 17 December 2026
  • Results on 1 January 2027

Annual issue

Current issue

Akshar Bharati Diwali Ank 2025

2025

Akshar Bharati Diwali Ank 2025

196 pages. Twelve poets from the Kavi Katta evenings, a long interview with three village librarians, and stories by five first-time writers.

Download PDF : Akshar Bharati Diwali Ank 2025

PDF, 1.3 KB

Past issues

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Subscription plans

  • One year

    12 months

    Four quarterly issues and the Diwali annual issue, posted within India.

    ₹450

  • Three years

    36 months

    Fifteen issues. Saves ₹150 over three single years.

    ₹1,200

  • Five years

    60 months

    Twenty-five issues, and one extra copy of the next annual issue for a friend.

    ₹1,900

Press clippings

  • Open clipping from Dainik Prabhat Varta: Trust opens reading room on Sundays

    Dainik Prabhat Varta

    Trust opens reading room on Sundays

  • Open clipping from Dainik Prabhat Varta: Students fill hall for essay prize day

    Dainik Prabhat Varta

    Students fill hall for essay prize day

  • Open clipping from Godavari Samachar: Poetry evening completes 300 months

    Godavari Samachar

    Poetry evening completes 300 months

  • Open clipping from Lok Sahitya Patrika: Lecture series looks at Marathi novels

    Lok Sahitya Patrika

    Lecture series looks at Marathi novels

  • Open clipping from The Ketakigaon Times: Annual issue sells out in two weeks

    The Ketakigaon Times

    Annual issue sells out in two weeks

  • Open clipping from The Ketakigaon Times: Reading circle turns a room into a library

    The Ketakigaon Times

    Reading circle turns a room into a library

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