4th Kathmandu Kalinga LitFest from tomorrow

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, June 5: The fourth edition of the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) is all set to take place on June 6 and 7 at Hotel Himalaya, Kopundole in Lalitpur.

According to a press statement issued by Festival Director Ranjana Niraula on Thursday, the festival will explore how South Asian literature, art, and intellectual traditions are responding to contemporary global realities, cultural transformations, questions of identity and inclusion, spirituality, and social change.

The central theme of Kathmandu KLF 2026 is 'Beyond Borders: South Asian Literature in a Changing World — Towards the Imagination of a Shared Future.'

"The Festival will celebrate literature, music, poetry, cinema, dance, and diverse artistic traditions," said Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Founder, Director, and Curator of the Kalinga Literary Festival. "The festival will further strengthen the long-standing cultural and literary ties among Nepal, India, and other South Asian nations in the context of an increasingly interconnected global culture."

The festival is expected to bring together a distinguished gathering of personalities from the fields of literature, cinema, music, diplomacy, spirituality, and public life. Among the prominent participants are legendary singer and actress Ila Arun, acclaimed author Pratibha Ray, spiritual thinker Acharya Prashant, celebrated actor, lyricist, and writer Piyush Mishra, and noted writer-filmmaker Raj Shekhar.

Other distinguished speakers and participants include Abhi Subedi, Tulsi Diwas, Bina Paudyal, Shrawan Mukarung, Vikas Swarup, alongside many other renowned writers, artistes, filmmakers, scholars, musicians, diplomats, and intellectuals from across South Asia and beyond.

The two-day festival will feature a wide range of programmes, including panel discussions, keynote addresses, poetry recitation, musical performances, author interactions, book launches, workshops, cultural evenings, Yashaswi Best Book Awards announcement and distribution, and cross-border literary collaborations.

On the first day, at 11:00 am, eminent personalities including Abhi Subedi, Bina Paudyal, Kuladhar Saikia, Malini Awasthi, and Pratibha Ray will speak on the festival's central theme.

Among the many highlights of the festival, 15 prominent Nepali poets will present their works in a special poetry session titled 'Landscape of the Heart: A Journey Through Poetry.'

"The theme of this year's festival reflects the growing significance of South Asian literature and cultural traditions in shaping global conversations on identity, migration, inclusion, spirituality, the environment, and social engagement," said Ranjana Niraula, Director of the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival.

The festival is being organised in association with the Kathmandu-based Yashaswi Pragya Pratishthan.

The Kalinga Literary Festival, one of India's leading international literary festivals, has been organising the Kathmandu edition since 2022 with the objective of strengthening literary, cultural, spiritual, and civilisational ties among Nepal, India, and the wider South Asian region. Over the years, it has evolved into a significant forum for dialogue and exchange among writers, thinkers, artistes, scholars, filmmakers, musicians, diplomats, and intellectuals from across the region and beyond.

In addition to the Kathmandu edition, the organisation also hosts the KLF Book Awards, Kalinga Literary Festival Indraprastha, and the Mystic Kalinga Festival.