Lucknow — The fourth edition of the Koshala Literature Festival commenced today with a vibrant and culturally rich opening lineup, bringing together authors, scholars, performers, and literature enthusiasts from across the region for a day of spirited conversations, artistic reflection, and musical celebration.
The festival opened with the Inauguration and Lamp Lighting Ceremony, signalling the beginning of a four-day, one-of-a-kind literary celebration. Theevent was inaugurated by eminent academician Nishi Pandey, renowned theatre personality Sandeep Yadav, entrepreneur and movie producer Ajay Jain, and Founder of Koshala Literature Festival, Prashant Kumar Singh.
The first session of the day, “Qawwali: The Call of Hearts in Love,” featured renowned cultural revivalist Manjari Chaturvedi in conversation with Devanshi Seth. Drawing from Chaturvedi’s work on the forgotten histories of women in Qawwali, the session explored themes of devotion, transcendence, and the spiritual power of Sufi music. The discussion highlighted how Qawwali dissolves boundaries and unites audiences in shared emotional experience.
The festival continued with “Lights, Camera, Lucknow,” featuring Sandeep Yadav, Archana Shukla, Anil Rastogi, and Devashish Mishra in conversation with Prateek Bharadwaj. The panel reflected on Lucknow’s enduring influence on cinema, theatre, and storytelling, celebrating the artists who capture its cultural depth, historical beauty, and narrative allure.
This was followed by “Tales We Carry,” where Reena Puri, Editor-in-Chief of Amar Chitra Katha, and writer-editor-publisher Ashwitha Jayakumar joined Arsh Ali for a dialogue on mythology, folklore, and the evolution of storytelling. The speakers emphasised how stories become vessels of memory, identity, and imagination, shaping collective understanding across generations.
The evening session titled “The Hindi Heartland,” brought together author Ghazala Wahab and policy leader Jayant Krishna in conversation with Jyotsna Mohan. The discussion examined the cultural, political, and demographic significance of the Hindi heart-land,a region representing nearly 40 percent of India’s populationwhile addressing its social complexities, historical influence, and ongoing transformation.
The Koshala Literature Festival continues over the coming days with more sessions featuring acclaimed authors, journalists, performers, and thought leaders, reinforcing its growing legacy as a key cultural event in the region.
