New Delhi: The fifth edition of 'Mountain Echoes' the annual festival of literature in Thimpu is set to be held in May this year.
The three-day festival beginning May 22, is an initiative of the India-Bhutan foundation in association with Siyahi and Usha international has lined up as speaker the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, who is also the event's chief royal patron.
Namita Gokhale, Pramod Kumar KG, Kunzang Choden and Siok Sian Dorji are the Festival Directors.
Speakers include Advaita Kala, Alka Pandey, Ani Kinley Anuja Chauhan, Arshia Sattar, Ashok Vajpeyi, Christopher C Doyle, Dago Tshering, Damchu Llendup, Dasho Kinley Dorji, Dipankar Gupta, Dolma C Roder, Dorji Gyeltshen Shejun,Dr Lopen Karma Phuntsho, Florence Noiville, Gavin Francis, Ira Pande, Karma Choden, Karma Tenzin 'Yongba', Kesang Chuki Dorjee, Kjell Ola Dahl and Kunzang Choden.
Sessions cover subjects such as Popular Fiction, Democracy and Civil Society, Travel and Cities, Human Animal Conflict, Animist Beliefs, Crime and Thriller Writing.
A series of films are also set to be screened some of them include "Bhutan Women Forward by Kesang Chuki Dorjee", "The Red Door by Tashi Gyeltshen," "Finding Happiness by Ted Nicolaou" and "The Yak Herder's Son by Tshering Tempa"
Exhibitions are also set to be an integral part of the festival. They include Bhutanese Textiles in High Fashion Thagzo, the Textile Weaves of Bhutan and Contemporary Bhutanese and Japanese Art.
Performances by Bhutanese bands like The Baby Boomers, The Daydream Farmers, Poisoned Apple and Zhaw as well as open Mic sessions, Music at Mojo Park, Workshops on Crime Writing, Haute Cuisine, Leadership and Dream Interpretation are the other activities lined up during the festival.
Speakers also include Lily Wangchuk, Lopen Lungtaen Gyatso Malvika Singh, Manju Wakhley, Marie Veno Thesbjerg, Namgay Zam Navtej Sarna, Passang Passu Tshering, Pavan K Varma, Pramod Kumar KG, Rashna Imhasly Gandhy, Rebecca Pradhan Robert Yeo, Sangay Wangchuk Siddharth Shriram, Siok Sian Dorji Somnath Batabyal, Sonam Jatso, Sonam Kinga, Sonam Wangchuk Sonia Khurana, Sujeev Shakya, Tang Gup Thinley Namgyel Tashi Chewang, Tashi Gyeltshen, Umesh Anand, Yeshey Dorji and Yoko Ishigami
The festival is scheduled to be hosted at the Tarayana Centre, Hotel Taj Tashi and the Nehru Wangchuck Cultural Centre in Thimphu.
