The Fact News Service
Jalandhar, April 7
The 8th edition of the YAYAVAR Literary Festival unfolded with great zeal at KL Saigal Memorial Hall, marking a grand platform for discussion on literature and cultural performances. The event was graced by Vaneet Dhir, Mayor of Jalandhar, who addressed the audience and conveyed his best wishes for the event. The symbolic illustration of Yayavar was released by Deepak Bali, Advisor to Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board, along with Sangat Ram and other dignitaries in the Yayavar Baithak.
The eighth edition of YAYAVAR Literary Festival served as a vibrant platform for poets, authors, and artists. The festival began on a spiritual note with the Gayatri and Saraswati Mantras by Garima Singh, followed by a warm welcome by the founder and director of the festival, Nupur Sandhu. The festival was enriched by the mesmerizing Kathak performances of Bhavya Jain and Vibhuti Jain.
Keynote speakers Kritika Khanna, Brig Rajiv Mahna (Retd), Vineet KKN ‘Panchhi’, and Vineet K. Bansal inspired the audience with their motivational insights.
Engaging panel discussions featured a powerful symposium on Spy Thriller with Col R.M.S. Sandhu and “HIT Man” Lucky Singh Bisht, and a poetic sojourn with Dr. Jas Kohli, Sanjeev Bansal, Vandana Singla and Manjit Grewal. Other sessions included the Quest with Super-Naturals featuring Jay Alani, Anita Krishan moderated by Kalpana Singla; Stalwarts of Punjab with Lt Gen G.S. Cheema and Sport Writer Navdeep Gill; and a symposium on crime fiction with Vikram Singh, Chetan Batra moderated by Shefali Arora. Gaggun Bedi, the ‘Pride of Punjab’ also addressed the audience as the Guest of Honor for the event.
The event was attended by dignitaries such as S.C. Sood, Surender Seth, Seema Anand Chopra, Kadambari Mittal, Anjali Dada from Bookworms Club and many others.
The event was co-organized by Shefali Arora and hosted by Dr Ramandeep Oberoi. The event saw participation of several reading clubs across the city, including those from severalacademic institutions such as National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, Lyallpur Khalsa College and Cantonment Board School, Doaba College, Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Hans Raj Mahila Mahavidyalaya and Government Sports College.
Nupur Sandhu, founder of the festival, expressed her gratitude to the authors, moderators, guests of honor, media partners, sponsors and the audience for making the event a huge success. She thanked the sponsors Raman Jindal, Rishi Garg (Vrindavan Chikitsalaya Group), Sunil Jain, Jain Overseas and marketing partner Tushti Bhatia (Flipping Pages) for their support. She encouraged everyone in the audience to celebrate the moment and the spirit of literature and creativity.
