Bhutan Observer, 20th April, 2012
Mountain Echoes, an annual literary festival organized in Bhutan, is promising to come back with themes such as the need and importance of preserving language, standup comedy, graphic novels, environmental writing, cinema, theatre, poetry, and popular fiction.
This year’s festival, scheduled from May 20 to 24, will feature speakers like Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, Opposition Leader Tshering Tobgay, and Indian writer and filmmaker Gulzar, among a galaxy of authors, academics, actors, singers, film directors and intellectuals from Bhutan and India.
Organised by India-Bhutan Foundation in association with Siyahi, one of India’s leading literary consultancy, the festival will celebrate the true spirit of art begets art. This is the third year of the literary festival.
Mountain Echoes underlines the importance of cultural conversation and spending time with one another as the world becomes increasingly globalised. The cultural, literary and artistic exchange of ideas, thoughts and sensibilities is expected to contribute to strengthening the relationship between Bhutan and India.
The literary festival is going to be supported by Indian ambassador, Pavan K Verma, and Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck.
By Lobzang Yeshey