Set against the stunning backdrop of the Eastern Himalayas, the 8th edition of Mountain Echoes festival opened here today.
Inaugurated formally last evening at India House here by Bhutan’s Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the annual literary festival will explore globally relevant issues such as environmental conservation, natural history, spirituality, and Buddhism among others.
Speaking about the India and Bhutan's shared love for literature and art, the queen emphasised on the impact the festival has made on "young Bhutanese minds".
"Our shared love for literature and arts has brought India and Bhutan together to create and celebrate yet another edition of Mountain Echoes.
"Over the years since we started the literary festival, I have noticed the impact this festival has had on the young Bhutanese minds -- there is a growth in interest in literature among the young generation. And it is also evident by the increased number of Bhutanese speakers and authors at this year's event," she said.
Jaideep Sarkar, Indian ambassador to Bhutan, said that events like the Mountain Echoes opens Bhutan to the world and quipped it would supersede the Jaipur Literature Festival in popularity soon.
"I am thankful to the government of Rajasthan for their continued support and association with this event. It is not long before Jaipur Literature Festival will be but a successful imitation of Mountain Echoes!
"This year more than half of the listed speakers are from Bhutan. As Bhutan opens its society and culture to the rest of the world, we realise there is much to learn from the world but the world is also realising that there is a lot that they can learn from Bhutan through its lessons of harmony, balance and coexistence," Sarkar said.
The three-day festival will be attended by eminent Bhutanese and foreign authors including Markus Zusak, Shashi Tharoor, Ruskin Bond, Ashwin Sanghi among others.
The first day saw a discussion by Indian bestselling writer Ashwin Sanghi on "The Karma of Writing".
UK-born Bhutanese nun Emma Slade participated in a session titled, "Set Free" talking about about her life as the founder of charity 'Opening Your Heart to Bhutan' which works for specially abled Bhutanese children.
In the opening session on the first day, the queen talked about "The Legacy of Zhabdrung", shedding light on the life and legacy of the founding father of Bhutan, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.
The day also witnessed sessions by writers K Anis Ahmed, Sujeev Shakya, Tenzing Lamsang, along with a conversation between 'The Book Thief' author Markus Zusak and Linda Leaming.
The festival will come to a close on August 27.