Assam: Kokrajhar Literary Festival concludes, celebrating cultural harmony and literary excellence

The fourth edition of the Kokrajhar Literary Festival concluded successfully on Monday evening, bringing together over 200 poets, writers and literary figures from India and abroad. 

Organized by the BTC government the three-day festival commenced on February 1 at the Bodofa Cultural Complex situated on the banks of the Gaurang River in Chandamari, Kokrajhar City.

The festival aimed to spread a message of peace and cultural harmony. It witnessed the participation of eight renowned international poets and writers from Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Estonia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Additionally, 55 literary figures from various states of India and 110 poets and writers representing different languages of Assam and the Northeast took part in the event. The festival featured engaging literary discussions, poetry recitations, and interactive sessions, creating a vibrant literary atmosphere at the venue.

On the final day, a special discussion was held with eight distinguished international poets and writers. Among them were poets Claus Ankersen and Margus Lattik from Estonian, Sri Lankan poet Santham Ayathuri, and South Korean writer Chung il Kim, Miwa Sakuraki Fiction writer from Japan, Francesco Verso Fiction writer from Italy, They shared their experiences expressing appreciation for the festival’s warmth the hospitality of Bodoland and the rich cultural traditions of the Bodo people including their unique attire and cuisine.

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A major highlight of the festival’s concluding ceremony was the presentation of the Gaurang Valley Literary Award 2024 and the Gaurang River Literary Award 2024. Each award comprised a citation, a trophy, and a cash prize of ₹50,000. The Gaurang Valley Literary Award 2024 was jointly conferred upon Malayalam author K.R. Meera for her novel Assassin, which was translated into English by J. Devika. The Gaurang River Literary Award 2024 was awarded to Radhika Iyengar for her non-fiction work Fire on the Ganges: Life Among the Dead in Varanasi.

As the festival came to an end, Govinda Boro, Vice-Chairman of the organizing committee extended heartfelt gratitude to the 53 colleges under BTR their professors students, and all participating poets and writers. He acknowledged their invaluable contributions in making the event a grand success and fostering literary and cultural exchange.

The Kokrajhar Literary Festival once again reaffirmed its role as a prestigious platform for literary dialogue, promoting peace and cross-cultural understanding through literature.