Aurangabad: Amid the surge of new COVID-19 cases in the state, the 94th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (All-India Marathi Literary Meet) is postponed, the organisers said on Sunday.

The 94th Literary Meet was scheduled to be held in Nashik on 26, 27 and 28 of this month.

The Lokhitwadi Mandal of Nashik, the organising body and the Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal in a circular issued on Sunday stated that amid the rising cases of novel coronavirus in Maharashtra, the Literary Meet will be postponed. Kautikrao Thale-Patil, President, Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal said, "The preparations were in the full swing for the Meet but the rising cases of COVID-19 is a serious concern. Thus, we decided to postpone the Meet."

Renowned astrophysicist Dr Jayant Narlikar was slated to preside over the Literary Meet.

Marathi Sahitya Sammelan conducted for three days is attended by many renowned figures from literature, authors and book lovers.

The first Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was started in 1878 when social reformer, writer and judge Mahadev Govind Ranade chaired the literary conference.

The Literary Meet discusses about multiple prime issues in Marathi literature during period.

The annual literary meet in 2020 was held in Osmanabad.