Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival kicks off

The third edition of the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) commenced at Hotel Himalaya in Lalitpur. The event, themed “Nepal: The Gateway to Asian Art, Culture, and Literature,” was jointly inaugurated by Bhupal Rai, Chancellor of Nepal Academy, KLF Founder Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Kathmandu KLF Director Ranjana Niraula, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Shri Prasanna Shrivastava, Dr. Bhuwan Dhungana, Indian diplomat and novelist Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri, and Indian economist and writer Sanjeev Sanyal.

During the inaugural session, legendary poet Dr. Bhuwan Dhungana was honored with the Yashaswi Sahitya Samman. Additionally, the Yashaswi Book Award 2081 was presented to six books across five categories.

The awardees include Devvrat for his poetry collection ‘Aswasthamako Nidharbata Bagmati Bagchha’; Muna Chaudhary for her fiction ‘Laar’; and Momila Joshi for her non-fiction work ‘Prashnaharu Ta Baki Nai Rahanchhan’, an award she shares with Arun Gupta for ‘Sanskriti Chintan’. Additionally, Rohini Rana’s ‘The Nepal Cook Book’ (English) and Yagyaraj Upadhyay’s research work ‘Kali-Karnaliko Lok Sahitya Tatha Sanskriti’ were also recognized.

Each recipient received a prize of Rs 20,000 along with the award.

The festival brings together over 300 writers from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and other South Asian nations, fostering a rich exchange of literary and cultural traditions. It promises a grand celebration of literature, art, music, and culture, further strengthening Nepal’s role as a central hub for Asian cultural dialogues.

According to Ranjana Niraula, Director and Founding Member of KLF-Kathmandu, “The Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival will celebrate the longstanding cultural ties between Nepal, India, and South Asia, while offering a platform for deep discussions on the evolution of global cultures.”

Rashmi Ranjan Parida added that the festival serves as a common platform for cultural exchange between Nepal and India. He remarked, “It’s hard to pinpoint when Nepal and India’s shared journey began, and it continues today.”

Chancellor Bhupal Rai highlighted that the festival connects people globally through cultural interactions. He said, “This festival is an exercise in connecting the world with humanity through cultural activities and interactions. It bridges South Asian countries and brings people together across distances.”

Deputy Chief of Mission Shri Prasanna Shrivastava also emphasized the festival’s role in strengthening Nepal-India relations. “This prestigious Indian festival has been held in Kathmandu, a city rich in culture, for three years. India and Nepal share a longstanding relationship, with deep heritage ties. The festival’s main objective is to spread Nepal’s art, literature, and culture across Asian countries and to foster an exchange of ideas between Nepal and India,” he said.