Literary conference to be held after 29 years

By Our Correspondent,Damauli, June 9: A national-level literary conference is scheduled in Tanahun from June 9 to 10.

Organising a press conference in Damauli on Thursday, Gandaki Bangmaya Pratishthan informed it is hosting the literary conference in a  gap of 29 years.  The Academy had organised the first National Literary Conference back in 1996.

The president of the Academy, Sagar Udas, said that they are organising the conference to foster greater activity and responsibility in the fields of art, literature, culture, and tourism.

 Udas stated, "The conference, which focuses on language, literature, culture, and tourism development in the Gandaki Province, will highlight the realms of art, literature, tourism, 

and culture." 

Gaukumari Neupane, the vice president of the academy, highlighted the conference's widespread recognition at the national level and emphasised how it would facilitate stronger bonds among poets and writers from different regions, potentially leading to collaborative literary endeavours.

The literary conference will also feature a national-level poetry competition, it was informed in the press conference.

 The winner of the poem competition will be presented a prize of Rs. 55,000.

The second, third and fourth winners will receive the prizes of Rs. 40,000, Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively.

The organiser received a total of 237 poems for the competition, of them nine will be awarded.

 Additionally, participants of the literary conference will be taken on tours to local tourist spots, contributing to their promotion and publicity.

The conference will be inaugurated by senior writer Sarubhakta.

The literary conference was originally planned three years ago but had to be postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the poetry competition held in 1996, poet Bhupin Byakul's composition, titled ‘ Nadiharu Manchhe Jasta Hudainanan’ (rivers are not like people) won the first prize.