Mangaluru: Seventh edition of Lit Fest to be held on January 11 and 12

Mangaluru: Seventh edition of Lit Fest to be held on January 11 and 12

mangaloretoday.com

Mangaluru, January 9, 2025: The seventh edition of the Mangaluru Literature Festival, organized by Bharat Foundation, is set to take place at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre on January 11 and 12. Renowned author Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa will inaugurate the event at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The festival will host 72 distinguished speakers across 34 diverse sessions, said Sunil Kulkarni, trustee of Bharat Foundation, at a press briefing held at Hotel Ocean Pearl on Wednesday. The event will also feature the launch of 14 books, including six in English and eight in Kannada.

Prominent participants include Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, former Intelligence Bureau chief Vikram Sood, ex-diplomat and author Dileep Sinha, Tamil Nadu BJP president and former IPS officer Annamalai K, historian and author Dr. Vikram Sampath, JNU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Swami Mahamedhananda, Mythic Society President V. Nagaraj, Himalayan geopolitical expert Dr. Claude Arpi, political analyst Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Sanskrit content creator Samashti Gubbi, and creative educator Vandana Rai, among others.

This year’s Litfest Award will be presented to Dr. Balasubramanyam, President of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement and a member of the Union Government’s Capacity Building Commission.

The festival will feature sessions across two main stages and a discussion area called "Harate Katte." Notable additions include an experimental session for the visually impaired led by Aishwarya and Dr. Mallappa Bandi, emphasizing inclusivity. The event will also highlight regional and cultural heritage, with a session on the Tulu language by Dr. Tukaram Poojary and Shashiraj Kavoor, as well as representation of the Gondaliga community, a semi-nomadic tribe, through Vittal Gondale.

Workshops for children, a session on the Tulu script, a dedicated Sanskrit conversation panel, and interactive opportunities with authors will further enrich the festival. Trustee Shreeraj Gudi stated that these elements aim to celebrate literature and heritage while fostering cultural dialogues.

Attendees can also look forward to a curated bookstall showcasing a variety of literary works.