Ukhrul: In a landmark moment for Ukhrul and the literary landscape of Northeast India, the first-ever Shirui Lily Literature Festival is set to be held on May 21–22, 2025. The event marks the introduction of a literary component within the broader cultural programme of the Shirui Lily Festival and is notably the first literature festival of this scale to be held in Ukhrul.
Held under the theme “Literature as a Timeless Bridge Between Generations,” the festival aims to create a space where oral traditions engage with contemporary narratives. It will bring together readers, writers, publishers, artists, and cultural practitioners to explore storytelling as a tool for preserving histories, shaping identities, and imagining a more thoughtful future. In a time dominated by fast trends and fleeting content, the festival seeks to foreground the enduring significance of reading and writing in fostering understanding and reflection.
The two-day festival is envisioned as a platform for intergenerational dialogue and community memory, rooted in the written and spoken word. At its core, the event is a celebration of identity and invites people from Ukhrul and beyond to gather around stories, ideas, and the shared power of literature.
The programme includes a diverse lineup of sessions, ranging from intimate readings and poetry recitations to panel discussions and workshops. Audiences can expect conversations that examine how colonial and outsider narratives have shaped the identity of Northeast India, and how contemporary writers are reclaiming that space with renewed agency. Other sessions will focus on the dynamics of publishing in India, with insights into the challenges and opportunities for regional voices reaching national and global platforms.
A key theme of the festival will be cultural assimilation in Tangkhul society, particularly the influence of Western cinema and the growing impact of Korean pop culture. These conversations will look at how global cultural trends are shaping youth identities, aspirations, and intergenerational dynamics within the region. The festival will also spotlight the art of visual storytelling, with illustrators and photographers discussing how visual media can be used to preserve culture and memory.
Workshops on archiving and documentation will provide hands-on learning for participants interested in preserving oral histories, community knowledge, and local storytelling traditions—critical work in a region where much remains undocumented. Other sessions will focus on contemporary fiction and poetry, inviting writers to respond to present-day concerns and imagine possible futures. An open mic segment will offer emerging voices a platform to share their work in an inclusive and supportive environment.
The festival will feature a range of speakers from across and beyond the Northeast, including Deepthi Talwar, Mmhonlumo Kikon, Ankush Saikia, Raile Rocky Ziipao, Jim Wungramyao Kasom, Hermyne Khaling, David Yambem, Leisan Lungshai Luikham, Subi Taba, Iknguira L. Shimray, Phayam Raleng, Chonchuirinmayo Luithui Pheiray, and Rosemary Ishorari from the Northeast India AV Archive in Shillong. Together, they represent a diverse spectrum of voices, genres, and lived experiences that reflect the literary vibrancy of the region.
Since its announcement, the festival has generated excitement and widespread support within the community. Literature festivals have become popular cultural spaces across India—from Jaipur to Kerala—where writers, readers, and thinkers gather to explore ideas, identities, and imagination. For Ukhrul, known for its rich oral traditions and cultural depth, the introduction of a literature festival is both a natural progression and a bold statement: that stories from the hills have a rightful place in the wider literary discourse.
The Shirui Lily Literature Festival is being organised by a collective of young cultural workers and literary enthusiasts from Recognise Rise and Empower Association (RREA), Prologue Bookstore and Library, ishi, and Pasei Books and Studio. The event is supported by Mariwala Health Initiative and the Department of Tourism, Manipur, with Ukhrul Times as the official media partner and Ukiyo Bookstore as the bookstore partner.
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