Top 8 Literary Festivals in India

Top 8 Literary Festivals in India according to @Kurt993

1) Lucknow Literary Festival

Lucknow is known as the city of nawabs in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh which is an Indian state where famous litterateur like Munshi Premchand, Meer Taqi Meer, Amir Khusru and many others were born. These litterateurs made epic contribution to the Literature. Apart from its nawabs, Lucknow is also famous for its Lucknow Literary Festival.

The Lucknow Literary Festival was first held in 2013. This two-day affair witness litterateur from across the country. The Festival sees discussions on Hindi, English, Urdu, and Awadhi languages on a different range of topics associated with culture, cinema, society, and journalism.

One can also witness the book launches and events like workshops, cultural events, book reading sessions, and Lucknow Got Talent in this fest. The Lucknow Literary Festival has celebrated annually in the month of February or March.

2) Bangalore Literature Festival

Bangalore also known as Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka, India. Known for its beautiful gardens, parks and its famous Lit Festival. This city has always inspired creative thinkers and writers by its splendor beauty.

The Bangalore Literature Festival was founded in 2012 and held at the most salubrious weather of the year. This fest celebrates this creative spirit of the Bangalore city as the Garden City of India. This weather and city together bring it in conversation with the best minds in the world of literature.

The Festival is annual literary and cultural experience and focuses on the romance with literature and fine reading and writing. The fest is famous especially amongst the young population of bangalore. This global aspire festival creates a compelling space for engaging in thought-provoking discussions on various topics of literature and life.

3) Goa Arts and Literary Festival

Goa is one of the most travelled destinations in the world. This South West coast of India is not only famous for its beaches, stunning architecture, and unique culture but also for its art and literary festival.

The Goa Arts and Literature Festival (GALF) was started in 2010. This festival is all about the art and literature. It is organized every year in the month of December in the coastal state of Goa, India. Although this festival was not this big when it was started but it has grown very well over the time and has become a magnet for the young people and for the most acclaimed talent from and around India.

In the recent time Goa Arts and Literary Festival, GALF has hosted some exclusive launches for some of the best authored books. This festival has also consistently supported some of the most famous line-ups of contemporary poets ever assembled in contemporary India by hosting them in this fest.

GALF has hosted some of the best writers and artists of India, also vibrant theatre, music and film culture and more. GALF has proven that Goa is not just a beach destination and travel hotspot, it's more than that.

4) Delhi Literature Festival

Delhi the capital state of India, always remain in power in its history and believed to be the site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas from Mahabharata.

This beautiful historic city has a varied literary and cultural heritage. Delhi Literature Festival is one of them. This three days Festival is organized and celebrated during winter every year, around February and it provides an excellent opportunity for creativity, imagination, and exchange of ideas.

The DLF was first held in 2013 With the aim of promoting Art, Culture & Literature with some planned literary events. These events included  book readings, book launches, panel discussions, workshops, speaker events, live performances,  poetry, theatre, music, cinema and many more.

Apart from participation of renowned award-winning authors, journalists, the festival also witnesses’ active young, aspiring writers with interest in literature. The DLF features plenty of home-grown talent and big-name writers, journalists, poets and novelists who share their work, thoughts, ideas with the audience.

The crowd enjoys and partake this exchange in the colourful and festive surroundings of food, cuisines and handicraft stalls from across the country. One can easily participate in the events as the participation in the Festival requires tickets.

5) Hyderabad Literary Festival

Hyderabad the city of nizam, which is the capital of the Indian state of Telangana. This city is also known as "City of Pearls", as per history this city was known as a pearl and diamond trading center of India. Hyderabad was one of the largest and most prosperous state of all princely states in India.

Most of the part of Hyderabad is situated on hilly terrain and surrounded by artificial lakes. Which made Hyderabad one of the most beautiful cities in India. Apart from this Hyderabad is also known for Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF). This three-day affair witness litterateur from across the country. HLF is a multi-disciplinary, multi-lingual event that celebrates creativity in all its forms. It’s a festival for All.

Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) was started in 2010. The HLF includes many events such as conversations with authors, book launches, readings, discussion panels, cultural programmes, workshops, and events for college and school students and many more. HLF attracts over a hundred of writers, academics, artists, scholars, publishers from across India and abroad each year.

6) Chennai Literary Festival

Chennai is the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and formerly known as Madras. Chennai is located on the eastern Coast of the Bay of Bengal. This city is one of the biggest cultural, economic and educational centers in South India.

Chennai has a diverse theatre scene and is one of the important centres for Bharata Natyam. The city ranks second among Indian metropolitan city centres with a 90.33 percent literacy rate and the extent of the horizon is unbounded in this city in the field of literature and dramatics.

Chennai Literary Festival is an event to make spread awareness among the students by organizing several events and workshops. CLF have been recognizing Literary talent among writers who have done excellent literary works every year.

The 3-day affair keep the lovers of literature & art fascinated. Chennai Literary Festival includes many events for one to explore. These events include Literary Quizzes, Literary Debates, Paper Presentations, Recitation of Poetry, Painting / Sculpting and Collage, Oratorio setting music to poetry, Creative Writing, Translation Competitions, Storytelling, Documentary Filming and many more.

7) Kochi International Book Festival

Kochi capital of Indian state of Kerala. Kerala which is known to be the most literate state in India. Kerala is also known for its fertile land, rivers, and food. which makes it one of the beautiful states of India. Apart from this Kerala is known for its world-famous Kochi International Book Festival.

The Kochi International Book Festival is an annual affair held at the coastal city of Kochi in Kerala. With an outstanding population of avid readers and literature enthusiasts, reading is embedded in the blood of every Keralite.

The Kochi International Book Festival was started in 2007. This fest usually held during the month of December every year, although it was started as a January festival. This Book Festival is referred as Antharashtra Pustakolsav in the local Keralan language.

The fest witness some thought provoking workshops on different subjects of interest, deliberations on the contemporary social issues, and discussions on global literary inclinations. Another highlight of the event is its theme based knowledge festival which is curated with the objective of refining aesthetic sense driven through all our five senses. There are talks and sessions based on subjects like agriculture, art, shelter, music, food, health and much more.

8)  Jaipur Literature Festival

Jaipur city was founded in the starting of the 17th century and now it is the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan. This City is the largest city of Rajasthan. Jaipur is famous for its grand forts and beautiful palaces, making it a popular destination for the tourists in India. Apart from its historical monuments, Jaipur is also famous for the Jaipur Literature Festival.

The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) is an annual festival, it is celebrated in the month of January. This fest was inaugurated in 2006 and known to be the greatest literature fest. The JLF brings together a diverse mix of the world’s writers, humanitarians, thinkers, business leaders, politicians, sports people, and entertainers. 

The fest starts with the morning music by some famous singers, leading towards the inaugural session. Every day till the fest ends it is started with a morning music event by some famous singer. The fest is a paradise for the book warms. The Diggi Palace Hotel serves as the main venue for this fest. 

The fest participants include poets, authors journalists, novelists, publishers, essayists, actors, dancers, politicians, musicians, lyricists, film directors, historians, scientists, broadcasters, businesspersons, translators, marketers, playwrights, and many more. You can also witness the young crowd of school and college students showing their keenness in this fest. One can witness over a million book lovers from across the globe in this fest.

The JLF 2018 also featured a music stage, and a theatrical dance performance at Hawa Mahal apart from the lectures, poetry, debates, book readings and book launch.