Kathmandu – Kalinga Literary Festival Opens, Strengthening Odisha’s Cultural Connect with Nepal
Bureau,Odishabarta
Kathmandu : The fourth edition of the Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) commenced at Hotel Himalaya in Lalitpur, Nepal, reinforcing the enduring literary, cultural, spiritual, and civilizational ties between Odisha and Nepal. The two-day festival was inaugurated by the former Prime Minister of Nepal, Sushila Karki. Several prominent figures from Odia literature graced the event, including authors Pratibha Ray, Paramita Satpathy and Upendranath Behera, showcasing Odisha’s rich literary heritage.
Addressing the inaugural session, Festival Director Ranjana Niraula said literature is not confined merely to words and books but serves as a celebration of shared thoughts, culture, memory, empathy, and human potential. She noted that the festival is more than a literary gathering; it is a platform that fosters intimacy, dialogue, and mutual understanding among people. “The strength of literature lies in its ability to transcend geographical boundaries, transform linguistic differences into intimacy, and build invisible bridges connecting human beings,” she said. Niraula further observed that Kathmandu and Kalinga are not merely geographical entities but symbols of rich civilizations, cultural heritage, traditions, and profound intellectual journeys. She emphasized that the festival aims to deepen South Asian literary and cultural exchanges while strengthening regional cooperation.
Speaking as the chief guest, Sushila Karki reflected on her literary journey and its connection with society and personal experiences. She shared that she wrote a novel featuring the character ‘Tara’ in 1990 and translated poems of Ashesh Malla into Hindi. Recalling the work of Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck, whose celebrated novel The Good Earth portrayed Chinese society through keen observation, Karki said literature emerges from lived experiences, social realities, and human emotions rather than imagination alone.
Highlighting the significance of the festival for Odisha and the wider South Asian region, Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Founder Director and Curator of Kalinga Literary Festival, said the fourth Kathmandu edition features panel discussions, keynote addresses, poetry recitations, musical performances, interactive sessions with authors, book launches, workshops, cultural programmes, and cross-border literary collaborations. He said the festival seeks to explore how South Asian literature, art, and intellectual traditions engage with contemporary global realities, cultural shifts, identity, inclusivity, spirituality, and social change.
The festival has brought together an impressive line-up of distinguished personalities from across South Asia, including celebrated singer Ila Arun, acclaimed actor, lyricist and writer Piyush Mishra, writer and filmmaker Raj Shekhar, and spiritual thinker Acharya Prashant. Other eminent participants include Vikas Swarup, Badri Narayan, Neena Verma, Archana Singh, Jaiprakash Pandey, Kula Saikia, Malini Awasthi, Narayani Basu, Satish Padmanabhan, Yatindra Mishra, Sandeep Singh, Vikram Sampath, Anant Vijay, Yatish Kumar, Buddhisagar, Ashutosh Agnihotri, Sujit Kumar, and Yunus Khan.
As one of India’s premier international literary festivals with its roots in Odisha, Kalinga Literary Festival has been organizing its Kathmandu edition since 2022. The initiative has emerged as a significant cultural bridge connecting Odisha with Nepal and the broader South Asian region. Through literature, art, spirituality, and intellectual dialogue, the festival continues to promote Odisha’s rich civilizational legacy while fostering meaningful people-to-people connections beyond borders.
