On March 6, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. A literary competition in honour of Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas has been launched among readers of Vitebsk city libraries, as reported to BELTA correspondent by Galina Danilova, Director of the M. Gorky Vitebsk Central City Library. The competition "Kupala i Kolas, vy nas hadavali" (Kupala and Kolas, you raised us) will run until October 1st as part of the Year of Book in Belarus and regional events dedicated to the 130th anniversary of Kupala and Kolas. Youth aged 10 to 19 are invited to participate. Young people will compete in two age categories: pupils of grades 5-8 (10-14 years old), and pupils of grades 9-11, students and pupils of secondary vocational educational institutions aged 15-19. For the competition, they can submit works in the nominations "Best Poem" and "Best Prose Work" (novella, fairy tale, short story, essay) in Belarusian and Russian languages. The competition results will be summarised and winners awarded in October. The event is organised by the M. Gorky Central City Library and the Vitebsk Regional Branch of the Union of Writers of Belarus. The competition aims to increase youth interest in the works of the two most significant poets of Belarus and to support their aspiration for literary creation. The competition is one of the most important events organised within the city's library system in honour of the Year of Book, noted Galina Danilova, emphasizing that approximately 100 events are planned to be held in Vitebsk libraries throughout the year for this occasion.-0-

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