Former 'Kadambini' editor is this year's 'Maha Murkh'

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) Former 'Kadambini' editor and renowned writer Rajinder Awasthi received the 'Maha Murkh' award at this year's 'Antarrashtriya Murkh Maha Sammelan' held at Chandni Chowk to mark the closing of the Holi festival in town.

The 'conference of fools' later 'honoured' the distinguished journalist with a donkey ride after conferring on him the 'Maha Murkh' award.

An 'arti' was later performed on 'gardabh raj' (donkey), the presiding 'deity' of the day and in whose 'darbar' the ceremony was taking place, and tributes paid in verse in his honour after participants took an oath to extend the 'murkh tantra' in 'all directions'.

An overwhelmed Mr Awasthi said the award was one of the most distinguished of those he has received.

The annual conference, participated by well known scholars and personalities, also saw the release of 'Kunwari Kali' -- a satirical magazine.

The 'sammelan' is an attempt to inculcate in one the spirit of laughing at himself, said AMMS chairman R P Gupta adding that the idea was to make people laugh and relax and spread the cheer of Holi.

UNI