Ganesh Chandra Kandpal
Pahadis in India.com

Nainital to Host First-Ever Literature Festival, April 25–27, 2025

Nainital, April 23, 2025 — Nainital is set to become the confluence of literary minds when it hosts its inaugural Nainital Literature Festival from April 25 through 27, 2025. Presented by Lekhani Foundation and staged at the scenic Mountain Magic in Charakhet, this three‑day gathering will bring together eminent writers, scholars, artists, and cultural enthusiasts from India and abroad.

The festival will kick off on Friday, April 25 at 9:45 a.m. with a traditional lamp‑lighting ceremony. Amitabh Singh Baghel, Founder of the Nainital Literature Festival and Chairperson of Lekhani Foundation, will deliver the opening address, followed by a welcome speech from Professor Pushpesh Pant, renowned food historian and Festival Patron. Audiences will then be treated to “Anhad–Morning Raagaz,” a soul‑stirring musical performance by Ravi Joshi, Aman Mahajan, and Gaurav Bisht.

Over thirty sessions will explore a diverse array of topics—film, culinary arts, environmental issues, folklore, geopolitics, history, mythology, poetry, and storytelling. Cultural‑heritage sessions such as “Dharohaar: Kumaon’s Legacy,” “The Canvas of Nainital,” and “Nature’s Narratives” will spotlight local traditions, while literary panels like “Expanding Horizons of Literature,” “Ink of Resistance,” “Poetry’s Voice,” and “Savoring the Verse” will bridge regional identity with global perspectives.

International participants include London‑based translator Aniruddha Gupta, UAE‑based writer Jyotsna Mohan, and Hong Kong’s Ustad Ghulam Siraj Niazi. Keynote and panel speakers from film, literature, and media will feature Ahana Kumra, Anand Neelakantan, Arthi Muthanna Singh, Bela Negi, Bhupendra Chaubey, Deepak Balani, Gunjan Goyala, Kanak Rekha Chauhan, Kamakshi Khanna, Maria Goretti, Pratyaksha, Richa Rudra, Richa S. Mukherjee, Rudy Singh, Safir Anand, Sandhya Mridul, Sameer Sandheer, Sadaf Hussain, Shalini Shah, and Swati Digvijay Bora, among others.

A special book launch of Rajkamal Prakashan’s Zindagi Se Darte Ho—presented by Amitabh Singh Baghel, Anisur Rahman, and Chandrashekhar Verma—will be a highlight. Culinary‑culture dialogues include “Masters of Spices” featuring Gunjan Goyala, Pushpesh Pant, and Sadaf Hussain alongside Anshu Khanna; and “Testing the World” with Ahana Kumra, Maria Goretti, Pushpesh Pant, and Shahnaz Treasury.

Evening performances each day will showcase regional dance and music:
• April 25: “Fag – Kumaoni Folk Music Concert” with Prabhat Gangola and ensemble
• April 26: “Whispers in the Wind” Indian pop concert by Kamakshi Khanna
• April 27: “Khyal Ka Safar” Hindustani classical concert led by Ustad Ghulam Siraj Niazi and family

Panel discussions on contemporary thought and politics—“The New Great Game,” “Circles of Freedom,” “All He Left Me Was a Recipe,” “From Slumdog to Seven Lives,” “The Art of Suspense,” and “Reel Talk: Unpacking Cinema”—will round out the program.

Director Amitabh Singh Baghel remarks, “Our inaugural festival honors the rich cultural heritage of Kumaon while bringing a global literary perspective to Nainital. We aim to foster meaningful dialogue among both established and emerging thinkers and artists.”

Registration is free. Participants can reserve their spot by calling +91‑94103‑16353 or +91‑74669‑59913. For media inquiries, interviews, or further information, email nlfestival2025@gmail.com or phone +91‑97564‑92737, +91‑74560‑54874, or +91‑86303‑30578. Visit nainitalliteraturefestival.org for the full schedule.