APEC Nepal Concludes Two-Day Nepal–India Poetry Festival

Kathmandu, April 12: APEC Nepal, an institution that has remained steadfast in the promotion of Nepali language and literature for nearly three decades, successfully concluded a two-day Nepal–India Poetry Festival, marking its 27th anniversary with a series of landmark literary events.

At the Nepal Tourism Board premises in Bhrikutimandap, the organisation conferred on April 6the Vishwa–Jyoti Kavya Samman 2026 on poet Manjul in recognition of his contribution to Nepali poetry.

On the same occasion, the Vishwa -Jyoti Manuscript Award 2026 went to Surkhet-based writer Hima Roka for her short story collection Pratigya.

The festival saw the launch of Anubhuti, an anthology that brings together translated poems by 62 poets from Nepal and India.

‘Anubhuti’ presents a vibrant cross-border literary exchange in which poems by 31 Nepali poets have been translated into Hindi, and poems by 31 Indian poets have been translated into Nepali.

Bishow Bimohan Shrestha chaired the inaugural session, while noted scholar Prof. Abhi Subedi attended as chief guest.

Rajendra Shalabh has delivered welcome remarks.

Similarly, Shree Om Shrestha Rodan introduced the award recipients.

On the second day, visiting Indian poets toured cultural and historical sites across Kathmandu.

The festival concluded with a joint poetry recital at Hotel Yellow Pagoda, where Nepali poets read their works in Hindi and Indian poets recited in Nepali—an exchange that symbolised literary goodwill and linguistic harmony between the two countries.

Leela Anmol emceed the closing session under the chairpersonship of Shrestha.

Around 120 writers and literary figures attended the programme, which ended with a dinner reception, reaffirming a shared commitment to creative collaboration and cultural kinship across borders.