An International Art, Literature, and Culture Festival is set to take place from October 23 to 27, 2024, at the upcoming Writers’ Village in the Thano region of the capital. The five-day event will feature writers, artists, and intellectuals from around 65 countries, marking a major international gathering. The festival will be inaugurated by former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
The framework of the festival was finalized during a meeting chaired by former Union Education Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank.’ He emphasized that the event will play a crucial role in promoting the Hindi language on a global scale and highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. Foreign scholars, writers, and students participating in the event are expected to serve as ambassadors of the Hindi language in their respective countries.
The festival will have a grand opening session attended by former President Ram Nath Kovind, while Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Several other dignitaries, including Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and various Union Ministers, will also participate in the event.
The festival will feature four sessions of literary discussions and debates, with a range of exhibitions and folk performances kicking off the event. In addition, the books of 20 authors, including those written in Hindi and regional languages, will be launched. Special workshops on Hindi and local dialects are scheduled for October 23 and 24, where Dr. Nishank’s 12 books will be released in Garhwali and Kumaoni editions.
On October 26, Acharya Balkrishna, Vice-Chancellor of Patanjali University, will speak on the impact of yoga, spirituality, and music on health. The closing ceremony will be held on October 27. The meeting was attended by several notable personalities, including former Director of Higher Education Dr. Savita Mohan, Dr. KL Talwar, Dr. Sushil Upadhyay, Balakrishna Chamoli, and others.
