POKHARA: The ‘Nepal Literature Festival 2025,’ organized by the Ncell Foundation, officially began today at the picturesque Barahi Ghat grounds by the shores of Fewa Lake in Pokhara.

Hosted by the Bookworm Foundation, this year’s twelfth edition of the festival will run until March 2, highlighting literature, art, and culture. Often referred to as the ‘Kumbh Mela of Literature,’ the festival was inaugurated by Prithvi Subba Gurung, the Minister for Communications and Information Technology.

The opening ceremony included a scholarly lecture by economist and professor Mahendra P. Lama, followed by a special musical performance by Anil Shahi and his group.

The festival’s first dialogue session featured a conversation between actress Manisha Koirala and writer-journalist Vijay Kumar. Additional discussions included interactions with Basanta Thapa, authors Kanti Sherchan and Kavita Sherchan, and a media-focused dialogue with Minister Gurung, led by Vijay Timalsina.

A session on the ‘Science of Indigenous Knowledge’ also took place, with Sita Mademba engaging in a discussion with Subhash Nepali, Geeta Chaudhary, and Suresh Dhakal. Additionally, journalist Bharat Koirala had a conversation with Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey about the opportunities and challenges faced by the provincial government.

The festival will feature over 50 discussion panels, interactive programs, musical performances, and creative events, with participation from more than 200 literary figures, artists, journalists, and prominent individuals from Nepal and abroad.