India’s premier literary institution, Sahitya Akademi, will host its annual Festival of Letters at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, from March 7 to March 12, 2025.
The festival will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The prestigious Sahitya Akademi Awards will be presented in 23 languages, with eminent English playwright Sri Mahesh Dattani as the chief guest. This year’s Samvatsar Lecture will be delivered by renowned writer and scholar Sri Upamanyu Chatterjee.
As Asia’s largest literature festival, it will feature around 700 writers from across the country, representing over 50 languages in more than 100 sessions. The theme will be Indian Literary Traditions, with a national seminar on the topic during the final three days of the event.
The festival highlights inclusivity, showcasing young writers, women writers, Dalit writers, writers from the North East, tribal writers and poets, LGBTQ writers and poets, and many other distinguished personalities. A daylong program for children, “Spin A Tale,” will be held on the final day.
Cultural performances by eminent artists such as Rakesh Chaurasia (flute recital), Nalini Joshi (Hindustani vocal), and Fouzia Dastango with Ritesh Yadav (Dastan-e-Mahabharata) will be part of the festival. The Festival of Letters remains open and free for all literary enthusiasts, maintaining its status as India’s most inclusive literature festival since 1985.
