Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival: The fourth edition of Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) has begun at Hotel Himalaya in Lalitpur, Nepal, reaffirming the enduring literary , cultural , spiritual and civilizational ties between Odisha and Nepal.
The two-day festival was inaugurated by former Prime Minister of Nepal Sushilla Karki. Many prominent figures from the Odia literary world participated in the event , including writers like Pratibha Roy , Paramita Satapathy and Upendranath Behera, who showcased the rich literary heritage of Odisha. .
Addressing the inaugural session, festival director Ranjana Niraula said that literature is not limited to words and books , but rather it acts as a festival of ideas , culture , memory , empathy and human potential. She mentioned that this festival is not just a literary gathering ; it is a platform that promotes intimacy , dialogue and mutual understanding among people .
” The power of literature lies in its ability to transcend geographical boundaries , transform linguistic differences into intimacy, and build invisible bridges connecting human societies ,” he said .
Niraula further said that Kathmandu and Kalinga are not just geographical entities but symbols of rich civilizations , cultural heritage , traditions and profound intellectual journeys. He emphasized that the aim of the festival is to strengthen regional cooperation and deepen South Asian literary and cultural exchanges.
Joining as the chief guest, Sushila Karki spoke about her literary journey and its connection with society and personal experiences. She said that she had written a novel on the character ‘ Tara ‘ in the 1990s and had translated the poems of Ashish Malla into Hindi. Recalling the work of Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck , whose famous novel ‘ The Good Earth ‘ depicted Chinese society through subtle observations , Karki said that literature is not just born from imagination , but also from lived experiences , social realities and human emotions.
Highlighting the significance of the festival for Odisha and the larger South Asian region, Rashmi Ranjan Parida, founder director and curator of Kalinga Literature Festival, said that the fourth Kathmandu edition will feature panel discussions , keynote speeches , poetry readings , musical performances , group discussions with writers , book launches , workshops , cultural programs and cross-border literary collaborations. She said that the festival seeks to explore how South Asian literature , art and intellectual traditions are connected to the realities of the contemporary world , cultural change , identity , inclusion , spirituality and social transformation .
The festival brought together many prominent personalities from South Asia , including renowned singer Ila Arun , acclaimed actor , lyricist and writer Piyush Mishra , writer and filmmaker Raj Shekhar and spiritual thinker Acharya Prashant. Other prominent participants included Vikas Surve , Badri Narayan , Neena Verma , Archana Singh , Jayaprakash Pandey , Kula Shaikiya , Malini Awasthi , Narayani Basu , Satish Padmanabhan , Yatindra Mishra , Sandeep Singh , Vikram Sampath , Anant Vijay , Yatish Kumar , Indeka Sagar , Ashutosh Agnihotri , Sujeet Kumar and Yunus Khan.
As one of India’s leading international literary festivals, rooted in Odisha, the Kalinga Literary Festival has been organizing its Kathmandu edition since 2022. The initiative has emerged as an important cultural bridge connecting Odisha with Nepal and the larger South Asian region. Through literature , art , spirituality and intellectual dialogue, the festival continues to promote Odisha’s rich civilizational heritage and foster strong people-to-people ties across borders.
