The first edition of The Ruskin Bond Festival will take place on May 24 from 3:00 PM onwards at Lekhak Gaon in Dehradun, bringing together literature, film, music and discussions inspired by the life and writings of Ruskin Bond. Powered by StoneX Global and organised in collaboration with The Ruskin Bond Foundation, the event will be held at India’s first writers’ village. Registration is available on BookMyShow.
A Festival Dedicated to Storytelling
Set in the foothills of Mussoorie, the festival is conceived as a day-long celebration of storytelling across different art forms. According to the organisers, the programme combines literature with cinema, music, heritage and culinary experiences, reflecting the many ways stories are created and shared.
Bond, one of India’s best-known authors, has written extensively about childhood, nature and life in the Himalayan region. His books, including The Room on the Roof and Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra, continue to be widely read by children and adults.
Venue at India’s First Writers’ Village
Lekhak Gaon was founded as a literary and cultural space dedicated to writers, artists and readers. Located near Dehradun, the venue regularly hosts conversations, workshops and festivals focused on literature and the arts.
The organisers say the setting was chosen to reflect Bond’s long association with the hill towns of Mussoorie and Dehradun, landscapes that have shaped much of his writing.
Screening of Mastery
A central event of the festival will be the screening of “Mastery”, an original cultural film produced by StoneX Global. The film explores Bond’s life and creative journey while examining the relationship between literature and the seven forms of art.
Sushant Pathak, Chief Marketing Officer of StoneX Global, said the project is intended to encourage younger audiences to engage more deeply with literature, art and culture.
Programme Highlights
The festival will include:
- A keynote appearance by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank
- Panel discussions featuring writers, educators and artists
- A performance by Meena Rana
- The screening of “Mastery”
- A storywriting contest organised with CrossWord Books, with selected participants receiving an opportunity to interact with Ruskin Bond
About the Organisers
Founded in 2003, StoneX Global is an Indian natural stone company with manufacturing facilities in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, and operations in more than 20 countries. In recent years, the company has expanded its support for cultural initiatives that connect design, craftsmanship and artistic practice.
The Ruskin Bond Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on education, youth development and environmental awareness. Inspired by Bond’s literary legacy, the foundation promotes reading, storytelling and community engagement.
Visitor Information
| Event | Details |
| Title | The Ruskin Bond Festival — A Celebration of Life and Literature |
| Author | Ruskin Bond |
| Venue | Lekhak Gaon |
| City | Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India |
| Opening Date | 24 May 2026, 3:00 PM onwards |
| Exhibition Dates | 24 May 2026 |
| Organiser | StoneX Global and The Ruskin Bond Foundation |
| Entry / Tickets | Registration required via BookMyShow |
| Website / Registration | https://in.bookmyshow.com |
The event is open to readers, students, educators and art enthusiasts. Registration is required through BookMyShow. The organisers have stated that terms and conditions apply for participation in the storywriting contest and the opportunity to meet the author.
Takeaway
The Ruskin Bond Festival brings together literature and the arts in a setting closely connected to the author’s work and life. By combining film, music and discussion, the event offers audiences an opportunity to reflect on how stories shape personal memory, cultural identity and shared imagination.
