3rd Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival to Kick Off in September, Calls for Book Award 2081

KATHMANDU: Yashaswi Pragya Pratisthan, Nepal has scheduled to host the 3rd Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival in Kathmandu with over 300 writers, poets, and experts from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka on September 7 and 8, 2024. According to the press release, the central theme of the Festival will be “The Gateways to Asian Art, Culture and Literature.”

Ranjana Niraula, founder, director, and curator of the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival, stated that the grand literary extravaganza will bring in writers, thinkers, and experts from all the provinces of Nepal, as well as revered authors and artists from India and beyond.

The press release noted, “The collaboration will strengthen the cultural dialogue, religious as well as literary perspectives, and prolonged relations between Nepal, India, and South Asian countries. Over 300 writers from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka will join the festival.”

“3rd Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival will showcase literature, music, dance, poetry, and other art forms. It will be a lifetime experience for lovers of literature, music, dance, art, and poetry. The Festival will celebrate the long-standing ties between Nepal, India, and South Asian countries in the context of emerging global cultures,” said KLF Founder and Director, Rashmi Ranjan Parida.

Niraula added, “Overall, Nepal’s contribution to global civilization is significant and diverse, reflecting the country’s unique cultural heritage, natural resources, and strategic location.”

International Booker Prize-winning author Geetanjali Shree, acclaimed writers Jerry Pinto, Mrinal Pandey, Paul Sukirta Kumar, Maria Goreti, Usha Uthup, Yatindra Mishra, Gurcharan Das, Uday Prakash, Yatish Kumar, Kanishk Gupta, Ranjit Rae, and others from India will join the festival. From Nepal, legendary poet and folklore expert Prof. Abhi Subedi, Tulasi Diwasa, Dr. Jagman Gurung, Ashesh Malla, S.J.B. Rana, Bishow Parajuli, CK Lal, Rohini Rana, Dhirendra Premarshi, Dr. Usha Thakur, Prof. Dr. Beena Paudel, and over 300 writers will participate as speakers.

Surya Nepal CSR is supporting the festival, and Life Insurance Corporation (Nepal) Limited (LIC Nepal) is the presenting sponsor of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival.

“Like the first two editions of Kathmandu-KLF, in our 3rd edition we are planning to celebrate great literary, spiritual, and cultural traditions of Nepal, among other aspects, like the theme of Sita, Shiva, and Buddha Tatwa and their contributions to South Asia and global literary movements and traditions. The festival will have panel discussions on literature, art, culture, and history, and showcase artistic traditions from Nepal and India, in addition to the world of Nepalese and Indian art and music,” said Ranjana Niraula, KLF-Kathmandu, Director and Founding Member.

From the 3rd edition, Yashaswi Pragya Pratishthan has requested all authors and publishers to submit books for the Yashasvi Book Award. The foundation has called for submissions through a public press release. Books should be published by the end of Chaitra 2080 and should be in Nepali or English, written by Nepali authors, published in or outside Nepal. Three copies are requested to be delivered to the office of Yashaswi Pragya Pratishthan in Ghattekulo, Kathmandu, by Friday, Asadh 21, 2081. Five best books of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, history/culture/research, and translation/various genres will be awarded among the participating books.

The author of the awarded book will be honored at the 3rd Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival to be held on September 7, 2024. Niraula, director of Yashaswi Pragya Pratishthan, informed that recipients will receive a certificate of honor and Rs. 20,000 cash.