New Delhi, Jan. 21 -- Poet and diplomat Abhay K. has been awarded the Sarojini Naidu Award for Poetry 2026 at the second edition of the Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards, organisers announced on Wednesday. The announcement was made at a curtain-raiser and outreach event held at the Hi-Tech Institute of Engineering & Technology in Delhi NCR.

The ceremony, marked by dignity, intellectual seriousness and literary distinction, highlighted the growing credibility of the Banaras Lit Fest as one of India's important contemporary literary platforms. The festival organisers said the awards seek to recognise writing rooted in tradition while engaging meaningfully with present-day realities.

Abhay K. received the poetry honour for his lyrical and singa...