Pune, widely known as the education hub and the cultural capital of Maharashtra, is all set to witness a grand celebration of art, literature, and culture, bridging the gap between Pune and the ancient city of Banaras.
The much-anticipated "Banaras Lit Festival" will take place at the Sant Dnyaneshwar Auditorium in Savitribai Phule Pune University on September 21, 2024.
Organized by the Priyadarshini Group of Schools, the festival promises to be a captivating confluence of ideas, with a focus on the literary and artistic traditions of both cities.
The event is part of the Hindi Fortnight celebrations and is being jointly organized by the Pune Kashi Sahitya Kala Utsav, Navbharat Nirman Samiti, and the Hindi Department of Savitribai Phule Pune University.
The festival will be inaugurated by the university's Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Suresh Gosavi, with dignitaries such as Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr. Parag Kalkar, Registrar Dr. Jyoti Bhakare, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities Dr. Vijay Khare in attendance. Dr. Rajendra Singh, trustee of Priyadarshini Group of Schools, will also join the ceremony.
The festival’s coordinator, Dr. Sadanand Bhosale, Head of the Department of Hindi at the university, has ensured an enriching lineup of programs.
The "Banaras Lit Festival" will include discussions, interactive sessions, and poetry readings under the banner of "Vaatayan/Zoolook," where intellectuals, poets, and artists will gather to engage in meaningful dialogues.
The highlight of the festival will be the presence of renowned actor Yashpal Sharma, who will share his perspectives on literature, arts, cinema, theater, and culture.
Prominent figures from both Maharashtra and Banaras' cultural scenes, including Madan Mohan Danish, Son Rupa Vishal, Swarn Srivastava, Aslam Hasan, Vishal Bag, Dan Bahadur Singh, and Prashant Singh will contribute to the vibrant discussions and poetry sessions.
The "Banaras LitFest" is expected to offer a unique platform for fostering the shared cultural heritage between Pune and Banaras, while also promoting the Hindi language and its literary richness.