Fifth Ilam Literature Festival in early May

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Mar. 27: The fifth edition of the Ilam Literature Festival is all set to take place on May 1 and 2 (Baisakh 18 and 19, 2083 BS) in Ilam, promising a vibrant confluence of literature, culture, and tourism.

The festival is being jointly organised by Ilam Nagar Sahitya Pratisthan and Ilam Sahitya Samaj. Conceived as an international-level event, it seeks to seamlessly bridge literature and tourism while positioning Ilam on the global cultural map.

Held annually with the aim of promoting Ilam’s tourism through literary engagement, this year’s edition is expected to be especially grand. According to a press statement issued on Friday by Prakash Thamsuhang, president of the Ilam Nagar Sahitya Pratisthan, preparations are underway to deliver a richly curated and expansive programme.

The festival will host thought-provoking discussions and dialogues across a wide spectrum of themes, including literature, art, spirituality, culture, politics, tourism, environment, and technology. Distinguished writers, scholars, and artists from Nepal, as well as from India, articularly Sikkim, Siliguri, and Darjeeling, and Bangladesh, are expected to lend the event a strong international presence.

Over the course of two days, the festival will offer an engaging array of creative programmes, including literary panels, poetry recitations, book launches, interactive sessions, and cultural performances. It also aims to foster meaningful exchanges of ideas and encourage collaboration among creators from both within the country and beyond.

The organisers believe that the edition will further consolidate Ilam’s reputation as an emerging literary destination, while significantly contributing to the promotion of tourism. The festival is envisioned as a platform that brings Ilam's natural beauty and rich cultural heritage into focus through a literary lens.

"The event will be a memorable and enriching experience for literature enthusiasts, tourism entrepreneurs, and local residents alike," the statement notes, adding that the festival aspires to evolve into a dynamic hub for cross-border literary dialogue.

"The festival will establish Ilam as an international literary centre," the statement read, "Contributing not only to creative expression but also meaningfully advancing tourism promotion." The organisers underscore their broader goal of presenting Ilam’s unique identity to the world through the power of literature and culture.

The official logo of the festival was also unveiled at an informational event held in Ilam on Wednesday. The design symbolically weaves together elements such as the red panda, the spirit of literature, and the essence of tourism.

A special highlight of the festival will be a civic felicitation ceremony honouring vibrant literary figure Bairagi Kainla in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Nepali literature.

In addition, the Hangyug-Junita Foundation has announced that, starting this year, it will present an award carrying a purse of Rs. 50,000 to an energetic author during the festival.