The Second Sohrab Sepehri National Award Held in Kashan

TARNA-KASHAN, Iran —TKASHAN, Iran — The second Sohrab Sepehri National Award transformed the historic city of Kashan into a vibrant center of poetry, art, and cultural dialogue. Held in honor of Sohrab Sepehri—Iran’s celebrated modern poet and painter—the festival gathered poets, artists, and scholars from across the country for a three-day celebration of creativity, reflection, and friendship.

The event opened with a captivating literary gathering titled “Surah of Vision” (Soreh-ye Tamasha), hosted in the breathtaking Tabatabaei Historical House, often called the most beautiful traditional house in the world. The opening night featured poetry recitations, live music, and traditional storytelling (Naqqali) performed by renowned artists, creating a warm and spiritual atmosphere that echoed Sepehri’s poetic world. The session brought together jury members, poets, and lovers of literature for an evening of art, words, and heritage.

Throughout the festival, poets and participants from nearly every province of Iran—representing a diversity of accents, styles, and traditions—came to Kashan to share their work and celebrate the enduring influence of Sepehri’s poetic vision.

In the poetry section, Dr. Hosna Mohammadzadeh, the scientific secretary of the award, stated that the event “is not merely a literary competition but an attempt to revive the movement of modern Persian poetry and bridge young poets with Sepehri’s philosophical and artistic depth.” She added: “Sepehri’s poetry connects language and light, imagination and nature. It leads us toward simplicity, compassion, and contemplation—a path we need more than ever today.”

After evaluation by the literary committee and jury, the winners of the poetry category were announced as:

First Prize: Mohammad Asgari Saj (Kermanshah)

Second Prize: Vahid Kiani (Khuzestan)

Third Prize: Yousef Alipour (Khuzestan)

In the international poetry section, Edward Tara from Romania received the award, symbolizing the global reach of Sepehri’s legacy.

In the Poetry Book category, the winning title was Mahban by Mohsen Hosseinkhani from Kermanshah, while My Blossoms Turn into Sparrows by Leila Peykarifard earned an Honorable Mention.

The festival concluded with the awards ceremony and an exhibition of illustration artworks by participants in the visual arts section, curated by Hossein Sedghi. The exhibition highlighted the creative diversity and growing importance of illustration and visual storytelling in contemporary Iranian art.

During the closing ceremony, the audience and poets also paid tribute at Sohrab Sepehri’s gravesite, reaffirming his place as a timeless voice of beauty, simplicity, and human connection.

Held annually in Kashan—the birthplace of Sepehri—the Sohrab Sepehri National Award has become one of Iran’s most meaningful artistic events. Organizers announced that from next year onward, the festival will evolve into an international celebration, inviting poets, artists, and thinkers from around the world to honor Sepehri’s universal message of peace, imagination, and unity

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