Pokhara, Dec 13, 2019 : The 8th edition of IME Nepal Literature Festival has started on the bank of Fewa Lake in Pokhara from today.
Inaugurating the event, Chief Minister of Gandaki State Prithivi Subba Gurung pressed for the need for the people be elevated at intellectual level besides being empowered economically.
CM Gurung said,” It is a matter of pride that the event is being held in Pokhara. Gandaki State is rich in art and culture.”
According to him, the notable litterateurs such as Bhanubhakta Acharya, Lekhnath Poudel, Bhupi Sherchan, Dharmaraj Thapa, Ali Miya and national poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Gokul Joshi, Saru Bhakta, Haridevi Koirala and artiste Amit Gurung among others who were born in Gandaki State had significantly contributed to the propagation of Nepal’s arts and literature sector.
On the opening ceremony, IME Chairman Chandra Dhakal stressed the importance of language and literature of the country, and expressed satisfaction to be part of the festival.
Organized by the Bookworm Foundation and Random Readers’ Society, the literary festival will be held in various 35 sessions. More than 110 litterateurs, journalists, artistes, media persons and imminent personalities from several sectors are convening in the event, according to the organizers.
Organizers believe that apart from poetry recitation, panel discussions on the language, literature, philosophy and cultures, the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature-2019, carrying a purse of USD 25,000, will be another highlight of the event.