By Sushant Thapa

Kathmandu

Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF), Odisha, India, an annual feature and one of the leading literary festival in world from India, organized its Kathmandu edition in Nepal’s capital city on October 15-16, 2022.

During the 2-day festival, more than two hundred writers and artists participated in thirty-five sessions. Renowned Nepali and Indian poets, intellectuals, and artists of Nepali, Hindi, Maithali, Newari, and English language participated in different sessions.

During the festival English poets of South Asia also recited their poems in the English poetry session, which was chaired by famous senior poet Tulasi Diwasa and moderated by poet Rupsingh Bhandari.

Poets Kavita Singhal and Trina Chakraborti from India and poets from Nepal who recited their poems in the English language were Suman Pokharel, Mahesh Paudyal, Bhuwan Thapalia, Bhisma Uprety, Rupsingh Bhandari, Bhoj Kumar Dhamala, Sushant Thapa, Sushant Kumar B.K, Subash Singh Parajuli, Ujala Kapali and Rajendra Ojha.

The poems were recited on the theme of love, justice, resource, journey, and education, and selfhood, Himalaya, respect for father, patriotism, and theorization of poetry.

Tulasi Diwas, a legendary senior poet and writer from Nepal also recited his two poems: “Tree, a mental picture” and “Sun, tree, and cobweb.” Poet Tulasi Diwas conveyed the message that poetry is the highest artistic form of human expression so far man has ever developed. He further said that the essence of being a person lies in poetry and that all poems recited in the English session of KLF were meaningful.

The director of KLF Kathmandu Ranjana Niraula said, “This festival strengthened the relation between two nations and inspired many writers once again after the long hiatus.” Similarly, the founder and director of the KLF, Mr. Rashmi Ranjan Parida thanked the Nepal and said this festival will be held every year in Kathmandu.

Kalinga Literary Festival Kathmandu showcased literature, music, dance, poetry and other art forms. It was a life time experience for the lovers of music, dance, art, poetry and literature.

This was perhaps the first time in history that literature, culture, art, history came together to connect the regions of Nepal with those of India. The festival focused on spirituality, art and culture. The aim of festival was to create an Asian and global level platform for emerging art forms including literatures; to inspire and train young and aspiring authors to become torch bearers of literary traditions, and to encourage dialogue of literature with the policy makers, activists, artists and leaders.

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