As a part of 75th Azadi Ka Amrut Mahatosav, a day long Dogri Literary Festival is all set to host the award winning Dogri writers and authors on October 28 at the Patnitop Hills in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Following an old adage ‘khand mithe log dogre’ (Dogras are sweet like sugar), the festival initiated by the Higher Education Department, Jammu and Kashmir is being organised by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, University of Jammu, Government Gandhi Memorial Science College, Government Degree College, Udhampur, Patnitop Development Authority, Directorate of Tourism, Jammu and District Administration, Ramban and Udhampur, official sources here said.
Dogri language was introduced in the Eighth Schedule to the Indian Constitution in 2004.
“It is a rare feat because the festival will not only provide a platform to the Dogri stalwarts but also encourage budding writers and literary personalities to promote this sweet language,” they said.
Taking to microblogging site, ‘Dogri Literary Festival’ on its Twitter handle wrote, “get ready to immerse yourself in the unmissable day of celebration as #TheGreatDogriLiteraryFestival brings you different flavours of our #DogriLanguage and a broad horizon of the #Dogra cultural cosmos.”
However, the main attractions of the event will be reading, poetry, panel discussion, dogri folk music, mushaira, book stalls, ethnic food festival and much more.
An official said Padma Shri awardees, Narsingh Dev Jamwal, Jitendra Udhampuri and Shiv Nirmohi will grace the occasion while (Sahitya Akademi Awardees in Dogri), Desh Bandhu Dogra, Nuttan Prakash Premi, Om Goswami, Dhian Singh, Abhishap, Shiv Dev Sushil, Darshan Darshi, Om Vidhyarthi, Krishan Sharma, Gian Singh Pangoch, Sita Ram Sapolia, Inderjeet Kesar, Ved Rahi, Lalit Magotra, Shailinder Singh have so far confirmed their presence in the event.
Vice Chancellors Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu University, Heads of the Departments, Professors and other intellectuals will also be attending the Dogri Literary Fest, they said.