(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Katara the Cultural Village Foundation has announced that the third Katara Prize for Prophet's Poet has got a 'huge response, with 942 entries received from around the globe, including several non-Arab countries.
Winners will be selected at the finals of the competition to be held at Katara from April 25 to 28.
The award carries cash prizes worth a total of QR4.2mn.
The contest, featuring original Arabic poems on the life and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), is divided into two parts — classical poetry (Shaar Al Faseeh) and colloquial poetry (Shaar Al Nabti), Katara has said in a statement.
Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, general manager of Katara, said the number of participants this year has seen a huge increase compared to the second edition of the contest.
The organising committee has received 853 entries for classical poetry and 89 for colloquial poetry.
The participants include 86 women.
Fifteen best entries have been shortlisted in each category, which will enter the finals.
The colloquial poetry competition was introduced in the last edition.
Dr al-Sulaiti said the largest number of entries came from Syria and Iraq with a total of 276, followed by Egypt and Sudan with 257. The committee received 205 entries from the Maghrib countries and 158 from the Gulf region.
Also, the number of participants from non-Arab countries has increased to 46 from five entries received in the second edition of the competition.
Khalid al-Sayed, general supervisor of the prize, said the judging panel for the competition comprises academics and experts in poetry.
The 15 shortlisted entries in each of the two categories will be announced soon.
Three winners will be selected during the finals and the names will be announced at the award ceremony on April 28 to be held at Katara Opera House.
Qatar Television will broadcast live the finals and closing ceremony, said al-Sayed.
The first-prize winner in each category will get a cash prize of QR1mn while winners of the second and third positions will get QR700,000 and QR400,000, respectively.
The last day to receive entries was January 31. The competition is open to men and women aged 20 years and above.
According to the rules of the contest, each participant can submit one poem in 30 verses, which should be fresh and original, not published or broadcast anywhere before.
The prize aims to keep the young generation attached to the history and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Katara has said.
It also underlines the importance of poetry in uniting Arab and Muslim communities and reviving the great poetic tradition of the Islamic world.
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