Bhubaneswar: The 11th Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) is set to take place from March 21-23, 2025, in the historic Temple City of Bhubaneswar across three venues: Mayfair Lagoon, Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre, and Utkal Mandap. As India’s first literary festival to integrate theatre, dance, music, poetry recitation, ghazals, mushairas, and various other literary engagements, KLF stands as a unique global platform for year-round literary activities.

This year’s festival will welcome over 400 leaders, delegates, and innovators from across India and beyond to celebrate the power of language, literature, sound, and movement. More than 50 writers and performers from Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Europe will also be in attendance. The event will feature the prestigious Kalinga Literary Awards, honoring distinguished writers such as Mamata Kalia and Prof. Jatindra Kumar Nayak, alongside international awardees Dr. Srinuruddhs Dash and Dr. Mamata Mishra, and Nepali youth literary awardee Buddhisagar.

Dignitaries gracing the festival include Hon’ble Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati as the Chief Guest, along with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Indonesian Ambassador H.E. Ina Hagniningtyas Krisnamurthi, and Odisha’s Minister of Culture Shri Suryabanshi Suraj as Guests of Honor. This year’s central theme, “Literature and the World: Inclusion, Identity, and Belonging,” will frame discussions across multiple disciplines. A notable highlight is Nepalese billionaire, philanthropist, and literary figure Dr. Binod Chaudhary, who will attend as a Guest of Honor and speaker. The festival will also include ten prominent Nepalese writers, including Buddhi Sagar, Basanta Basnet, Rohini Rana, and Ken Subedi, who will participate in over ten sessions, including two dedicated to Nepali literature.

From Indonesia, acclaimed novelist and essayist Mahfud Ikhwan, along with Mr. Undri, Director of Cultural Promotion at the Indonesian Ministry of Culture, will join the event. Indonesia’s Belantara Budaya Indonesia Foundation will present vibrant traditional dances such as the “Nusantara Medley Dance,” “Mandau Dance,” “Maumere Dance,” “Tor Tor Dance,” “Solo Jaipong Dance,” and “Gelang Ro’om Dance,” showcasing the nation’s rich cultural heritage.

This year, the festival will feature over 400 speakers, including award-winning writers recognized by the Nobel, Booker, International Booker, and Sahitya Akademi awards. Discussions will span topics such as cultural nationalism, female identity, crime fiction, memoirs, translation, poetry, economics, Generation Y, Indian languages, publishing, mythology, media, artificial intelligence, ethics, global crises, cinema, sports, and more. The festival will also host One-on-One sessions with leading intellectuals, alongside storytelling sessions that add depth to the literary experience.

Since its inception in 2013, KLF has hosted nearly 6,000 speakers and performers, bringing together the world’s most celebrated writers, thinkers, politicians, business leaders, and entertainers. This year’s lineup includes renowned figures such as Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Devdutt Pattanaik, Vikram Sampath, Ila Arun, Abhishek Shukla, Arshia Sattar, Keshav Chaturvedi, Manisha Kulshreshtha, Gagan Gill, and many more. More than 100 artists will also participate in the Kalinga Art Festival, further enriching the cultural landscape.

In addition to literary discourse, KLF 2025 will incorporate Mystic Walks and cycling tours, allowing attendees to explore the juxtaposition of Bhubaneswar’s ancient heritage with its modern urban setting. The festival continues to champion Brand Odisha and Brand India, amplifying the state’s cultural presence on the global stage. KLF has also expanded internationally, hosting a literary festival in Kathmandu since 2022 and planning future editions in Colombo and Bali, rekindling Odisha’s historical connections with Southeast Asia.

Reflecting on the festival’s significance, Ashok Kumar Bal, Patron & CEO of KLF, emphasized that KLF is more than an event—it is a confluence of ideas and traditions shaping societies and fostering innovation. Founder & Director Rashmi Ranjan Parida echoed this sentiment, highlighting KLF’s commitment to inclusion, identity, and belonging, making it a transformative experience for all who seek the magic of words and ideas. As KLF continues to evolve as a global literary powerhouse, the 11th edition promises to be a vibrant and thought-provoking celebration of literature, culture, and intellectual exchange.