11th Kalinga Literary Festival to host over 400 writers

Event to be held from March 21 to 23

Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar is set to host the 11th edition of an international literary festival of Kalinga Literary Festival, which will be held from March 21 to 23.

Considered a premier platform for intellectual and creative exchange, the capital of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, is set to host the 11th edition of Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) from March 21 to 23. This year’s festival is set to host over 400 writers, thinkers, and visionaries from across India and the world.

In a press statement, the organisers of KLF say that it is the first literary festival in India and in world to integrate theatre, dance, music, poetry recitation, ghazal, and mushaira along with various literary engagements across three different venues.

It adds that Hari Babu Kambhampati, Governor of Odisha, will be the chief guest of this event, that will feature over 400 speakers, which include Nobel, International Booker and Sahitya Akademi award winners.

It adds that this festival will also feature 50 international writers and performers from other countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and European nations.

According to the statement, Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister, Odisha, along with Ina Hagniningtyas, Ambassador of Indonesia to India,  will also attend the event, with the central theme Literature and the World: Inclusion, Identity, and Belonging.

The statement adds that during the event, diverse themes such as cultural nationalism, female voice and identity, crime fiction, memoirs, translation, poetry, economics, generation y, Indian languages, publishing, mythology, media, cinema, sports, AI, peacebuilding, discrimination, and social equity will be explored. Moreover, there will also be one-on-one conversations with celebrated authors and literary figures.

“KLF continues to champion the literary and artistic heritage of India while engaging with global literary currents. Each edition strengthens our commitment to inclusion, identity, and belonging to this year’s central theme. With an incredible lineup of writers, thinkers, and performers, KLF 2025 promises to be an enriching and thought-provoking journey for all who seek the magic of words and ideas,” says Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Founder, Director, KLF

During the event, literary awards will honour distinguished literary figures, accompanied with dedicated Nepali literature sessions that will highlight 10 renowned writers from the country.

Additionally, as per the press statement, a special cultural segment will also feature traditional Indonesian dance performances by the Belantara Budaya Indonesia Foundation. The festival will take place across three venues in city’s Mayfair Lagoon, Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre and Utkal Mandap.

The festival will also host distinguished speakers from the country including Nepalese billionaire, philanthropist, and literary figure Binod Chaudhary, along with writers such as Buddhisagar, Basant Basnet, Rohini Rana, Ranjana Niraula, Ken Subedhi, and Pawan Thapa. They will take part in over 10-panel discussions on global literature, with two sessions dedicated to the Nepali language.

Additionally from Indonesia, novelist Mahfud Ikhwan and the country’s Culture Minister Undri will attend the event as speakers. During the event, traditional Indonesian dances performances such as Nusantara medley dance, Mandau dance, Maumere dance, Tor Tor dance, Solo Jaipong dance, and Gelang room dance will also be performed.

“Kalinga Literary Festival is more than an event; it is a cultural confluence where ideas, traditions, and voices from across the globe meet to create a shared narrative. This year’s festival amplifies the power of storytelling, highlighting how literature shapes societies, preserves histories, and fosters innovation,” says Ashok Kumar Bal, Patron & CEO, KLF.