Fourth Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival Concludes, Celebrating South Asian Literature Beyond Borders

Kathmandu-The fourth edition of the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) concluded in the capital on Sunday after two days of literary discussions, cultural performances and cross-border exchanges aimed at strengthening South Asian cultural and intellectual ties.

Held at Hotel Himalaya, Lalitpur, under the theme “Beyond Borders: South Asian Literature in a Changing World,” the festival brought together writers, scholars, artists, diplomats, musicians and thinkers from Nepal, India and across South Asia.

According to the organizers, more than 400 speakers, poets, artists and performers participated in the event, which featured over 60 panel discussions, debates and conversations. More than 100 national and international award winners were among the participants, while poetry recitations were held in Nepali, Newari, Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri and English.

The festival hosted keynote speeches, book launches, workshops, musical performances and cultural programmes, with a special emphasis on cross-border literary collaboration and cultural exchange.

Prominent personalities participating in this year’s edition included acclaimed singer and actress Ila Arun, noted Odia writer Pratibha Ray, spiritual thinker Acharya Prashant, actor-writer Piyush Mishra, filmmaker and author Raj Shekhar, and diplomat-author Vikas Swarup, among others. Writers and artists including Paramita Satpathy, Upendranath Behera, Badri Narayan, Malini Awasthi, Narayani Basu, Vikram Sampath, Buddhisagar, and Yunus Khan also took part in the event.

During the festival, discussions focused on literature, identity, inclusivity, spirituality, social transformation and the evolving role of literature in contemporary South Asia.

Founder Director and Curator Rashmi Ranjan Parida said the festival was organized with the objective of further deepening literary and cultural relations among Nepal, India and other South Asian nations. He noted that the gathering celebrated not only literature but also music, poetry, cinema, dance and diverse artistic traditions.

Festival Director Ranjana Niraula described the event as a platform that goes beyond books and writing, fostering dialogue, shared memories and mutual understanding among the peoples of South Asia.

The festival, organized in collaboration with Safal Pragna Pratishthan, has been holding its Kathmandu edition annually since 2022 and has emerged as a significant platform for promoting literary, cultural and civilizational connections in the region.

Organizers said this year’s edition successfully reaffirmed Kathmandu’s growing stature as a vibrant hub for literary and cultural dialogue in South Asia.