Gangtok: The second edition of the Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival (SALF) will be held at The Ridge Park in Gangtok from October 28 to 30, bringing together writers, poets, musicians and cultural practitioners for three days of literary discussions, poetry readings and musical performances.
An initiative of Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, the festival is presented by the Students’ Welfare Board under the Education Department of the Government of Sikkim and produced by Teamwork Arts, the organisers of the Jaipur Literature Festival.
The festival aims to promote Sikkim as a cultural destination and provide a platform for young people to engage with literature, art and ideas from across India and beyond. The programme will explore themes including identity, memory, belonging, climate change, wildlife conservation, biodiversity, folklore and the cultural heritage of the Himalayan region.
Aditya Golay, Member of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly from Soreng-Chakung, said the festival would provide an opportunity to celebrate the voices and stories that shape the cultural identity of the Himalayas.
He said the programme would bring together writers and thinkers whose work explores place, identity, memory and belonging, encouraging audiences to experience Sikkim through its people, stories and creative traditions.
The literary programme will feature writers and poets, including Chuden Kabimo, Mamang Dai, Nawaraj Parajuli, Ranjit Hoskote, William Dalrymple, Yuvan Aves, Guru T. Ladakhi and Stephen Alter, among others.
Sessions will explore the relationship between literature, landscape and identity. ‘Echoes of Verse’ will bring together Mamang Dai and Ranjit Hoskote in conversation with Guru T. Ladakhi, while ‘These Hills Called Home’ will feature Chuden Kabimo, Prajwal Parajuly and Stephen Alter in a discussion moderated by Sharda Chhetri.
Another session, ‘A Borderland State of Mind’, will feature Akhilesh Upadhyay, Pema Wangchuk Dorjee and Satyadeep S. Chettri, with discussions focusing on the experiences of people living in borderland communities.
The programme will also feature ‘कविता कन्सर्ट: Beats of Poetry’, showcasing the work of Nepali poet Nawaraj Parajuli and exploring how poetry captures everyday life, memory, emotion and a sense of belonging.
Sonam Chopel Sherpa, Chairman of the Students’ Welfare Board under the Education Department, said the festival would give young audiences an opportunity to engage with diverse literary and cultural perspectives.
He said the interactions could encourage young people to recognise their own experiences, languages and stories as part of a wider cultural conversation.
The literary programme will be accompanied by musical performances spanning ghazals, classical and instrumental music, Rajasthani folk traditions and contemporary fusion.
The opening reception on October 28 will feature ‘Celebrating the Legends of Ghazal’ by Aagaaz, a Delhi-based ghazal project founded by vocalist Suhavi Kalsi. The performance will pay tribute to legendary ghazal artists, including Mehdi Hasan, Begum Akhtar and Noor Jehan.
On October 29, the morning programme will feature ‘Mystical Journey through Flute and Rhythms’ by Kartikeya and Makrand, a musical performance drawing on classical and contemporary influences, jazz and blues.
The evening programme will feature Indian Ocean, the folk-fusion band known for combining Indian classical and folk traditions with rock, jazz and other global influences. The band is known for albums such as Kandisa, Jhini and Desert Rain, and its contributions to films including Masaan and Black Friday.
On October 30, Magda Khan and Group will present ‘Khamma Ghani Sikkim: Rajasthani Folk’, showcasing the musical traditions of Rajasthan’s Manganiyar community through folk, Sufi and devotional music.
The festival will conclude its evening music programme with Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Cafe, which interprets the poetry of 15th-century mystic poet Kabir through a blend of Indian folk, rock, reggae, pop and Carnatic music.
Syed Shams Jawaid, Festival Producer and Senior Vice President of Teamwork Arts, said the programme would explore literary and cultural conversations emerging from the Himalayas and borderlands while connecting them with wider national and international perspectives.
The festival will also focus on issues such as climate change, environmental awareness, wildlife conservation, biodiversity, mental health, architecture, history, ethnicity and writings from Northeast India.
Through literary discussions, performances and cultural exchanges, the organisers aim to highlight the diversity of the Himalayan region and create opportunities for emerging writers and artists to interact with established practitioners.
The Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival 2026 will be held at The Ridge Park in Gangtok from October 28 to 30.
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