Guwahati, October 14, 2025: The Nalanda Literature Festival (NLF) 2025 was officially announced in the North East through an interactive session held at Jyoti Chitraban, Kahilipara, Guwahati. The event celebrated the confluence of ‘Legacy, Language & Literature’. It marked yet another milestone in the festival’s journey towards its first edition to be held from December 21 to 25, 2025, in Rajgir, Nalanda, Bihar. In a symbolic collaboration, Nalanda University joins NLF 2025, where ancient wisdom meets contemporary creativity.

The session was graced by Chief Guest Sh. Kula Saikia, Ex-DGP, Assam Govt and eminent writer and Guest of Honour Shri Kalyan Chakravarthy, ACS, Cultural Affairs Department, Government of Assam, who joined Chairperson D. Aaliya, Trustee Dhanu Bihar, Festival Director Ganga Kumar and others in unveiling the festival’s vision. The gathering witnessed participation from members of the literary and artistic community, media representatives, and cultural enthusiasts, including  Padmashri Arup Kumar Dutta, Prof Arupjyoti Saikia, Sh. Prabhu Jha, Prof Madhumita Barborah, Sh. Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih and many more writers whose insights and experiences enriched the discussion on India’s literary and linguistic diversity.

Sh. Kula Saikia said, “Nalanda is not just a location; it is a living idea, an eternal light of knowledge that continues to inspire India and the world. Bringing this festival to Guwahati reflects our belief that every part of India, from the heart of Bihar to the banks of the Brahmaputra, shares a common pulse of creativity, dialogue, and heritage.”

Shri Kalyan Chakravarthy added, “Assam has always been a land of storytellers and thinkers. The Nalanda Literature Festival’s outreach here strengthens our shared commitment to preserving and promoting the diverse languages, traditions, and cultural expressions that form the soul of our nation.”

Aaliya, Chairperson, said, “Nalanda stands for knowledge that liberates, not just the mind, but also society. Through this festival, we wish to take the essence of dialogue, dignity, and diversity to every corner of India. Guwahati’s warmth and intellect reflect exactly what Nalanda represents, the courage to question and the grace to listen.”

Padmashri Arup Kumar Dutta,  shared, “NLF journey from Mumbai to Guwahati reflects the festival’s growing resonance across India. Nalanda Literature Festival 2025 will be a celebration of knowledge, art, and discourse, connecting our ancient wisdom with contemporary thought.”

The event also highlighted the Nalanda Literature Development Programme, running from September 2025 to March 2026, which aims to nurture creative dialogue and cultural exchange leading up to the main festival. Apart from this, entire team of NLF pay homage to great singer and composer of India, Sh. Zubeen Garg for his immense contribution in Indian music industries with special focus on assamese culture and civilasation.

The Nalanda Literature Festival 2025 promises to be a grand confluence of India’s intellectual and cultural heritage, bringing together voices from across the nation and the diaspora at the historic sites of Rajgir, Nalanda, reaffirming India’s timeless spirit of knowledge and imagination.