JAVAKHK (Armenpress)–A poetry and song festival was held Sunday in Gandza village of Bogdanovka (currently Ninotsminda) Region–which is the birthplace of the great Armenian Poet Vahan Terian. The undertaking–which was initiated by some intellectuals 35 years ago–grew year after year–eventually turning into an annual Poetry festival featuring participants from all over the world.
On Sunday–thousands gathered by thehouse–where Terian was born (which is now his Museum) as well as by the church yard–where Terian and his ancestors were buried.
A monument was erected for Terian in 1978–another monument dedicated to the Armenian Genocide–and in 2001 a Khatchkar–authored by Seyran Janamian–was erected also.
The Khatchkar opening ceremony–which was held on July 22–was hosted by Rafik Arzumanian–the Ninotsminda region administration chairman as well as Yerevan Mayor Robert Nazarian.
Harutiun Berberian–an Armenian poet from Canada and a member of Armenian Writers Delegation expressed his feelings–saying " This is my first trip here. I finally saw what I have heard and imagined about Javakhk. I see a true Armenian picture here–with people from Armenia–Karabakh and Diaspora".
After the ceremony–the festival guests and locals moved to upland area to celebrate the Poetry Festival. Several people spoke about Vahan Terian and his tremendous poetic heritage including Yerevan Mayor Robert Nazarian–Javakhk Union Chairman and the Editor in Chief of Armenian Encyclopedia Hovhannes Ayvazian–Chairman of Armenian Writers Union of Georgia Jora Snkhchian–poets Hamlet Karchikian–Alla Armandon–Hmayak Grigorian as well as the Vahan Terian Museum Director Vaghinak Ghazarian.
The festivities were concluded by a concert–which continued until late in the evening.