DelhiPoetry
Festival Junior
A celebration of young voices, creative minds, and the magic of poetry. Where children become published poets, confident performers, and passionate readers.
Where Young Voices Find Their Wings
Delhi Poetry Festival Junior is India’s foremost poetry festival designed exclusively for young writers and performers aged 6–18. Now in its 4th edition, DPF Junior is a nurturing space that celebrates the creative brilliance of children through poetry recitation, writing workshops, anthology publications, and fellowship awards.
Our young participants don’t just attend — they perform on stage, get published in anthologies like A Sky Full of Stars and Pebbles and Stardust, and walk away with the prestigious Delhi Poetry Festival Award & Fellowship.
An Unforgettable Experience for Young Minds
Poetry on Stage
Children perform their original compositions and recitations on a professional stage before a live audience of poets, writers, and literary enthusiasts.
Published Anthologies
Selected young poets see their work published in beautifully curated anthologies — becoming published authors and poets before they even turn 18.
Fellowship Awards
The prestigious Delhi Poetry Festival Award & Fellowship recognises excellence in poetry, honouring the most outstanding young voices of the year.
Creative Workshops
Expert-led writing workshops, poetry master classes, and immersive literary experiences designed to spark creativity and build confidence.
Multi-Language Poetry
Celebrating India’s rich linguistic heritage, DPF Junior welcomes poetry in Hindi, English, Urdu, and regional languages — every tongue has a stage.
A Literary Community
Young poets connect with peers, mentors, and established writers — building friendships and literary bonds that last well beyond the festival.
Young Poets, Bright Stages
DPF Junior 2026 - May
SheScapes - August
Global Sustainability Awards Dubai - Sep
DPF Children LitFest - Nov
Delhi Poetry Festival (Main) - Feb ‘27
Building Spaces of Harmony
In times such as these, when the world is in constant conflict and harmony and peace lie asunder, art and poetry bring semblance and provide succour to wounded souls. That is why we must build such spaces, these blessed interludes where poetry brings sanity to chaos.
That is the reason we gently steer children towards these creative pursuits. We aim to pull them away from digital devices, social media, and other potentially conflicting spaces. The intent is simple, yet deeply relevant in today’s chaotic world — to build a free, fearless, creative world for them; to teach them to thrive in harmony and peace; to help them learn the nuances of poetry, literature, and art; and to become better citizens of the world.
This anthology, Pebbles and Stardust, is a collection of young voices and expressions. These poets — the DPF Poetry Awardees and Fellows — have penned verses on various subjects. We have not interfered with their original thoughts, nor have we attempted to edit much. The poems remain largely in their original form, as sent by the children, untouched by adult intervention.
Word by word, our children will change the story of the world — a poem, a story that holds no dark spaces. Congratulations to all the young poets who find their work in print. You have already become published poets.