KATHMANDU, July11: After gathering huge crowds at its first meet last year, Kathmandu Literary Jatra (KLJ) is back with its second edition.
Scheduled to be organized from November 29 to December 2 in and around Patan Museum, the fest this year promises to be bigger and better.
“The preparations of the fest have already begun,” said Suvani Singh, Festival Director, adding “the response we’re getting from international writers is very positive.”
With more than 70 writers, authors, poets, scholars and journalists from Nepal and other countries to be participating, the three-day Jatra will see a gamut of literary activities, including readings, discussions, lectures, workshops, children’s events, exhibitions, activities and performances in multiple languages for all age groups.
“The Jatra’s mission is to provide a free and open platform for creative expressions through art and literature that will foster an informed and perceptive community,” according to the organizers.
To be held in association with the Nepal Economic Forum, an independent national organization chaired by Sujeev Shakya’s Creative Consultants, the festival has Namita Gokhale, cofounder of the Jaipur Literature Festival, as Festival Advisor.
KLJ witnessed more than 10,000 participants last year, and the organizers are hoping to maintain the number, if not exceed it.
“We’re trying to rope in those authors whose books are popular in the Nepali market so that more and more people can benefit from the fest,” added Singh.
Expressing her views on the festival, Namita Gokhale, a writer and publisher in her own rights said, “The creative buzz around Kathmandu is really very exciting, and I’m looking forward to participating in the collective creativity of this ancient and cosmopolitan city.”
Apoorva Srivastava, First Secretary, Press Information and Culture, Embassy of India in Kathmandu, said that the festival will act as a binding force between Nepal and India.
“After the success of last year’s festival, we’re proud to be associated with the second edition of the Kathmandu Literary Jatra and we hope it’ll move on to even greater heights. Given the common literary tradition between India and Nepal and the common languages that bind us together, we believe the festival will further strengthen this bond,” he said.
KLJ will also have support from another major player this year.
“The US Embassy’s Cultural Office Section would love to work with Nepali authors, artists and other cultural persons,” Amod Dev Bhattarai, Cultural Affairs Specialist, Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Kathmandu said. “The Jatra will facilitate the dissemination of not just Nepali literature but also American culture. We, for one, hope to have a famous American slam poet participate in the series of events. We’ll be very happy to support the second edition of the Kathmandu Literary Jatra.”
For further updates on the festival, log on to their website at www.qcbookshop.com or http://www.litjatra.com
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