“There should be a book of poems in your survival kit, along with medicines, because poetry is an important asset that will always save us.”These lines were spoken by poet Indre Valantinaite at ‘Sansaar’, an international poetry festival which recently concluded in New Delhi.Language, a salient treasure on earth connects us all together. At times it is a cradle and a lullaby for us. At the same time, it works as a weapon and an encouragement for us to travel through every thick and thin. At times it becomes a pinkish blush on our cheeks and at times it becomes at once a whole narrative, a small compound and a complete universe.The international poetry festival Sansaar was organised on February 27-28 and March 1, 2026, at the India International Centre, New Delhi, saw the celebration of such language.Indre Valantinaite from Lithuania, Kateryna Kalytko from Ukraine, Samira Negrouche from Algeria (who writes in French), Andre Naffis Sahely from Italy (who writes in English), Ausre Kaziliunaite from Lithuania, Daniel Lipara from Argentina, Gregor Podlogar from Slovenia, and Sinon Antoon from Iraq recited poems in their languages and their translated works were read in English and Hindi languages.Top row from left: Andre Naffis-Sahely, Dunya Mikhail, Akram Alkatreb, k.eltinaé, Glorjana Veber, Kateryna Kalytko, and Yahya Lababidi. Bottom row from left: Sinan Antoon, Indre Valantinaite, Ausra Kaziliunaite, Samira Negrouche, Daniel Lipara, and Gregor Podlogar.Poets who were unable to reach India narrated poems over video.In the opening ceremony poet Ashok Vajpeyi welcomed all and said, “Poetry is one candid voice pitched, as it is, against clamour, overwhelming noises, impossibilities of silence. Poetry hears the voices of despair, of help, of cries and laments, of prayers and mournings, of adoration and celebration, of whispers and indecent laughter. Poetry today is voice, lament, prayer and call. The god of poetry resides in details, in everyday life, in the neighbourhood of inheritance and loss, in the squares of contestation and disagreement, dissent and reconciliation.”These poets spoke of their anguish and discomfort, what circumstances they are struggling with, in what environment they live in, what they think before leaving for their workplace, what goes on in their minds about war and peace, what they have lost, and how they struggle with the worries of home when they are away.On day two of the event, the US and Israel attacked Iran. One of the poets was worried about his parents. Yet, in the midst of such a difficult and demanding circumstance, he smiled and recited his poems. This is the power of poetry and language. Language has always played its important role in our lives. We don’t know where we are heading to, just as this war is pushing us and our peace aside. We can’t even imagine what the next moment holds for all of us. The positivity and cheerfulness with which the poets from other countries read their poems gave us reassurance that there is still plenty of courage and hope left.At a time when wars are raging everywhere, poets like Ashok Vajpeyi, who have led a long-standing initiative to preserve poetry and language distinguish themselves. These three days had everything to give to the festivals’ attendees. They were a new beginning as well. Countries may differ, continents may differ but all human beings and their emotions are the same. Poetry is a strong connection between us. It holds us, shapes us, makes us happy, gives us a space for sorrow, rage and the shedding of the dust of negativity.A poem is not just a few lines but an invention of self realisation, a bond between countries, a discovery of a new peaceful world and above all a feeling of patience in tough times. Ashok Vajpeyi has always fostered this connection and the value of hope.The invited poets see the world as poetry itself, and for them poetry is the world. For them poetry is a way to make peace, a place where the world becomes fully audible. For them, poetry is a necessity for humanity.The festival also saw the publication of an anthology and the display of drawings inspired by the participants’ poetry, created by noted Indian painters.During the closing session Vajpeyi thanked the poets stating, “During an attack on a particular country, it is not just they who are attacked, we are also attacked, we are also bombed, we are also smothered by their supremacy. The world needs to be empathetic. People should understand the meaning of empathy. Twenty thousand children were killed in Gaza, what does this figure mean? Tomorrow it may be 23,000 or 25,000. These figures don’t matter because we are safe, We have developed a lack of in sensitivity, but there is a world of poetry apart from the world of reality, apart from the world of nature, seas and mountains, apart from the world of AI. There is an indestructible world of poetry and we have paid tribute to that indestructible world.”Joshna Banerjee is principal, Springdales, Agra. Banerjee has authored two poetry books Ambudhi Me Pasra Hai Akash and Sudhanpurna, a biography of Kathakguru Shambhu Maharaj named Adhyavadhi and a diary, Vanchnavadh.