Mountain Echoes Literary Festival set to return with its 9th edition in Bhutan

EE News Desk Jun 28, 2018

Mountain Echoes Literary Festival will return with its 9th edition in August. An initiative of the India-Bhutan Foundation and India’s leading literary agency, Siyahi, the festival will be held from August 23rd – 25th in the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu.

Presented by the Jaypee Group and powered by the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, the Festival is known for bringing together literary stalwarts from across the world in the lap of the Himalayas. This year’s edition of the Festival will celebrate 50 years of formal diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan and will pay tribute to the rich cultural ties between the two nations.

As each year, the three-day festival will celebrate Untouched Beauty, Unexplored Ideas and Unstoppable Voices from the heart of the Himalayas. The 2018 edition will focus on subjects such as Spirituality and Philosophy, Performing Arts, Environmental Conservation, Food, as well as Film & Theatre, among others. Each session will witness noteworthy names being a part of engaging discussions with the audience, thereby bringing together a range of expertise and perspectives on stage throughout the three days.

Bhutan’s literary festival was established under the patronage of the Royal Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, and the ninth edition of the festival will serve to be a collaborative platform for knowledge sharing, leading to global cultural potpourri of ideas.

The inaugural session will see Ambassador General V. Namgyel (Bhutan’s Ambassador to India) and Ambassador Jaideep Sarkar (India’s Ambassador to Bhutan) in conversation with Dasho Chewang Rinzin (Deputy Chamberlain to the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck). The three eminent personalities will lead a discourse on 50 years of friendship between India and Bhutan.

Continuing the literary extravaganza across the festival, will be names such as Andrew Quintman, a scholar of Buddhism in Tibet; authors and environmentalists Daniel C. Taylor and Dave Goulson; celebrated spoken word poet Sarah Kay; renowned Indian singer Usha Uthup, Indian actors and theatre veterans Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah.

Other prominent speakers attending the three-day festival include Nilanjana Roy, author of The Wildings, Kunzang Choden, Bhutan’s first woman writer to write an English novel; L. Somi Roy, the author of Binodini: A Photographic Memoir; Chador Wangmo, author of various illustrated children’s books, Kezang Dorji, one of Bhutan’s most loved rappers, Dechen Roder, director of Honeygiver Among the Dogs, and Tandin Bidha, actress.

Adding to the heritage and legacy of the festival will be popular names such as Tiger conservationist Valmik Thapar, theatre personality Sanjana Kapoor, celebrated dancer Dr. Sonal Mansingh and Ritu Dalmia celebrity chef and author of popular culinary books Travelling DIVA and DIVA Green.

The 2018 festival will also explore global and locally relevant subjects related to Natural History, Travel and Poetry, including a tribute to 50 years of the Beatles in India, amongst others.

Founder and Co-Director of Mountain Echoes, and celebrated author Namita Gokhale said, “Mountain Echoes, the Bhutan Literary Festival, is an exuberant celebration of cultural connectivities, resonating with the joys of books and cinema, the shared narratives of music and folklore , food and sport, as well as deep spiritual perspectives, and the challenges of our changing world. This year, we also have a special and important focus honoring the strong ties between India and Bhutan in their 50th year of diplomatic relations.

Commenting further, Festival Co-Director Pramod Kumar KG, Managing Director of Eka Archiving Services Pvt. Ltd, said, “Mountain Echoes has become an epicenter connecting cultures and geographies through the powers of human imagination. It brings alive the roots of our origin, connecting us to others through an exchange of thoughts and ideas. Our aim has always been to bring a different flavor to the festival each year and the ninth edition will be yet another powerful celebration of literature.”

The ninth chapter of the Mountain Echoes Literary Festival will combine the breathtaking locales of Bhutan with its cultural prowess. Bringing together the best of minds from Bhutan and the globe, the festival will discuss a host of topics making a strong connect with the literary enthusiasts. Its idyllic location and programming make it one of the most unique literary festivals in the world and a leading event in the international literary calendar.

Eminent Bhutanese author and Festival Co-Director Tshering Tashi added, “Mountain Echoes has become a key event in the Bhutanese calendar bringing both the curious and the intellectual minds together for three days of fun. The niche festival will spark the imagination of both local and global audiences through a diverse range of electrifying conversations. We cordially invite all not only to be part of the conversations but also experience the beauty and rich culture and history of Bhutan. In 2018, we are all set to take the notch higher with an exciting canvas for all attendees, who will get a glimpse into our varied cultural heritage through the numerous gatherings planned over the three days.”