The second edition of the Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival (SALF) will be held at The Ridge Park in Gangtok from October 28 to 30, bringing together writers, poets, musicians and cultural practitioners for three days of literary discussions, poetry readings and musical performances.
An initiative of Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, the festival is presented by the Students’ Welfare Board under the Education Department of the Government of Sikkim and produced by Teamwork Arts, the organisers of the Jaipur Literature Festival.
The festival aims to promote Sikkim as a cultural destination and provide a platform for young people to engage with literature, art and ideas from across India and beyond. The programme will explore themes including identity, memory, belonging, climate change, wildlife conservation, biodiversity, folklore and the cultural heritage of the Himalayan region.
The literary programme will feature writers and poets, including Chuden Kabimo, Mamang Dai, Nawaraj Parajuli, Ranjit Hoskote, William Dalrymple, Yuvan Aves, Guru T. Ladakhi and Stephen Alter, among others. The programme will also feature ‘Beats of Poetry’, showcasing the work of Nepali poet Nawaraj Parajuli and exploring how poetry captures everyday life, memory, emotion and a sense of belonging. Sonam Chopel Sherpa, Chairman of the Students’ Welfare Board under the Education Department, said the festival would give young audiences an opportunity to engage with diverse literary and cultural perspectives.
He said the interactions could encourage young people to recognise their own experiences, languages and stories as part of a wider cultural conversation.
The literary programme will be accompanied by musical performances spanning ghazals, classical and instrumental music, Rajasthani folk traditions and contemporary fusion. The opening reception on October 28 will feature ‘Celebrating the Legends of Ghazal’ by Aagaaz, a Delhi-based ghazal project founded by vocalist Suhavi Kalsi. The performance will pay tribute to legendary ghazal artists, including Mehdi Hasan, Begum Akhtar and Noor Jehan. The Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival 2026 will be held at The Ridge Park in Gangtok from October 28 to 30. (East Mojo)
The post Sikkim arts and literature fest returns to Gangtok first appeared on Nagaland Post.