Organised by the literary group Readers Jhapa, the third edition of biennial Kala Sahitya Utsav has kicked off in Kakkadbhitta, Jhapa, on Thursday. 

The three-day fest will see a host of authors from Nepal and India who will engage in panel discussions on more than two dozen topics. 

Speaking to the Post, translator and chairperson of Readers Jhapa, Ujjwal Prasai, said, “The motive of the fest is to fill the gap that exists between the literary traditions of the Capital and the mofussil.” 

The fest is slated to bring together a host of scholars and authors such as Chaitanya Mishra, Dr Devendra Raj Pandey, CK Lal, Kishore Nepal, Narayan Wagle, Rajendra Maharjan, Sabitri Gautam, Uma Subedi and Aahuti, among others.

The first day of the fest, on Thursday, saw 10 sessions in total, that included a keynote speech on the topic Samajbad Unmukh Sambidhan ko Chirphaar, by Chaitanya Mishra and a speech on Nepal’s financial policy by Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada and CK Lal’s speech on the Buddhist tradition in South Asia. The fest will continue till February 25.