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The festival of literature, culture, and art—Kathmandu Utsav—commenced on Friday with poetry recitations from eight renowned poets. The opening session, held at the Nepal Tourism Board hall, featured poets Bhupal Rai, Bairagi Kainla, Sulochana Manandhar, Biplav Pratik, Usha Sherchan, Tulsi Diwas, Homanath Subedi, and Dinesh Adhikari, who shared their poems, marking the festival’s formal inauguration.
During his brief remarks at the opening session, Om Rizal, an advisor to the festival, stated, “This festival not only celebrates the heritage of art and culture but also amplifies the voices of ordinary people.”
The two-day festival will host a total of 15 sessions. According to Babu Tripathi, the festival coordinator, as the organizing team is primarily composed of young individuals, the event prioritizes the work, presence, and perspectives of the younger generation.
Since Kathmandu is embedded in the festival’s name, its first session on the opening day is dedicated to Kathmandu’s culture. The session, titled “Heritage, Culture, and Civilization,” will feature discussions by Arun Gupta, Nani Hera Shakya, and Ravindra Puri on the historical and unique aspects of Kathmandu’s culture. The session will be moderated by journalist Rajendra Baniya.
Another highlight of the first day is a discussion titled “Dimensions of Literature” between veteran writers Dhruv Chandra Gautam and Basanta Chaudhary. Additionally, a session featuring popular singer Shanti Shree Pariyar will delve into her journey from struggles to remarkable success. She will engage in a conversation with poet Deep Darpan on the topic “Dedication and Success.”
A session titled “Knowledge, Wisdom, and Science” will be conducted by writer Bimal Acharya. Meanwhile, Saguna Shah, the founder of the popular Bookaholics group, will host an interactive discussion titled “Small World, Big World” with college students and young readers.
Another session will focus on tourism development, featuring discussions among Rajendra Sapkota, Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha, and Laxman Gautam. Journalist Birat Anupam will moderate the session.
Prioritizing the experiences of everyday people, the festival will also feature a session titled “Voices from the Ground,” where two individuals with decades of experience selling maize and tea will share their stories. Writer Bina Thing will moderate the discussion.
In addition to discussions, poetry, and ghazal recitations, the festival will also showcase traditional Kathmandu cuisine, an art exhibition, and a bookstall reflecting the city’s rich civilization.
