REKINDLING THE ROMANCE WITH LITERATURE            

The magic of words and passion for literature acted like magnets to lure me towards literary festivals where incredible minds share their ideas, wisdom, and creativity; whether it is the famous Jaipur Literary Festival or the Kasauli one or nearer home, the Chandigarh one or the AWWA Literary Festival which is in nascent stage or any other lit festival in the country. These enlightening events are where literature enthusiasts, book lovers, poets, and thinkers gather under one roof to share and celebrate their love for the written word. 

The Kasauli Lit Fest started in memory of the famous writer Khushwant Singh, spreads the values he stood by, thus continuing his legacy. Varied issues ranging from ecology, heritage, current affairs, girl child, and mental health, apart from poetry and fiction, find a place in the rich vibrance of the literature festival there. Words spark the fire of change through conversations on varied platforms and panel discussions. For literature enthusiasts, it is a much sought-after event to stimulate and fuel their senses and creativity, thus exploring the transformative power of literature. 

The famous Jaipur literary festival with an array of speakers is a star-studded event where subjects ranging from literature, arts, politics, etc are heartbeats of the literary community. It is an experience in itself where you breathe the same air as the famous writers you admire, listen to them, and enrich your world. It is a space to find your larger tribe and discover the charm, clarity, and passion of the galaxy of the greatest writers. 

The first-ever literary festival hosted by the army wives for the army wives, the initiative of the then Army Chief’s wife in Dec 2021, was a huge success. It was a delight to be amongst the published authors and poets. The panel discussions with the writers, authors, poets, and publishers were an enlightening and enriching experience. The published authors sharing their journey and the valuable inputs from publishers were inspiring for the budding authors. Cultural programs and discussions with celebrity authors and publishers were warming on a cold December morning. The energy of the place was gripping from the moment one entered the venue, and it stayed as one moved from one venue to the other, being part of the panel discussions, workshops, mesmerising poetry sessions, or book launches. The entertainment and cultural programs added to the vibrancy of the atmosphere of intellectual introspection. Army wives traveled the length and breadth of the country to be part of this festival that may be in its infancy but doing well into the third year of inception. The idea to get the literary talent of the army wives under one roof has become a resounding success. 

Literary festivals are not classrooms to learn creative writing to be an author or poet. It comes from our inner realms, as listening to other like-minded people can only stimulate your creative skills. New books, ideas, and stories take birth here, inspiring the joys of reading and writing in us. Spirit of literature is celebrated through the plethora of activities invoking ideas, inspiring, and engaging the audience. Established writers share their wisdom alongside emerging voices in an eclectic mix of talent and a symphony of ideas where the magic of the written word is celebrated. 

The events are intellectually stimulating, and the enthusiasm of the audience, whose passion and love for literature add to the charm of the events. It is empowering to meet like-minded people at the diverse set of sessions which are infused with infectious literary energy. Literature is not dying which is visible in a serious reading of people who swarm these places. The varied literary festivals have earned a name for our country on the global literary map. 

Pictures from Google