KATHMANDU, May 27: The Himalayan Literature Festival has kicked off in Thamel, a major tourist destination in the federal capital, from today. The two-day literature festival has started at Kathmandu Guest House in Thamel.  The festival is jointly organized by the New York Writers Workshop and White Lotus BookShop Lalitpur. The festival was jointly inaugurated amidst a function today by Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Bhagwati Chaudhary and British Ambassador to Nepal Rob Fenn.

Addressing the event, Minister Chaudhary said that the festival would play an important role as a bridge to connect Nepali literature with world literature. She noted that discussions on the contribution of poet and dramatist Gopal Prasad Rimal at such a literature festival was a matter of pride for Nepali literature. 

Minister Chaudhary urged the writers to highlight the world's environmental protection, climate change, issues of women, children and senior citizens, and promotion of tourism through literature and arts. 

Similarly, the British Ambassador Fenn mentioned that such programs play an important role in connecting world literature to Nepali literature. 

On the occasion, ambassador Fenn also recited his poetry.

Founder of White Lotus Book Shop, Yuyutsu RD Sharma, said that in the festival, which will be conducted till Tuesday, there will be group discussions, poetry recitations, book releases, and drama performances. The program will be divided into three separate thematic sessions.

On the occasion, 'Chamero: Corona Kavita' (Poems on COVID-19 Pandemic) penned by Shyam Rimal will be released. 

Writers and poets from Nepal, Panama, Greece, Britain, America, Hong Kong, India, Philippines, South Africa and other countries will present their works at the festival. 

According to the organizer, more than 35 writers from five continents are participating in the festival.

 
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