As fall foliage blankets the Dal Lake and chinars turn to gold, Srinagar will soon turn into a mini-mecca for creatives. Famous for its astounding beauty and centuries-old culture of storytelling, Srinagar is on the verge of welcoming some of the brightest minds of literature, art, and culture to Kashmir Literature Festival (KLF), 2025, on October 11 & 12 at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre.
The festival, organized by the Srikula Foundation, believes it’s essential for highlighting Kashmir’s deep-seated cultural legacy while introducing its literature as a new cultural voice. With a roster that emphasizes leading authors, poets, journalists, thinkers, and artists, KLF-2025 will have Srinagar re-imagined as an artistic dialogue, discovery, and expression melting pot; where each dialogue represents the Valley’s indomitable resilience and its timeless love for storytelling.
Event at a Glance
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | 11th – 12th October 2025 |
| Venue | Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre, Srinagar |
| Organizer | Srikula Foundation |
| Theme | Celebrating Words, Culture, and Heritage |
| Participants | Over 50 authors, poets, journalists, artists, and thinkers |
| Highlights | Book fair, art exhibition, poetry readings, panel discussions, cultural shows |
Key Highlights
- Sessions will encompass present-day literature, media, art/technology, and the cultural heritage of Kashmir.
- Special focus on new writers, women writers, and new storytellers from Kashmir.
- A platform to promote literature, as well as Kashmiri art and crafts.
- Showcasing performances around folk traditions and music from the Valley.
- Designed to connect narratives from Kashmir with the world.
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The event has much more to offer with leading artists, your favourite authors and poets, and renowned thinkers gracing the event with their presence and participation.
A Fusion of Literature and Ideas
Over the course of two days of a literary festival, there will be panel conversations and discussions, book launches, a variety of readings of literature and poetry, and cultural performances, that together create an animated space of art and intellect. Each of the sessions will cover a different theme, such as contemporary literature, history, media, and art and technology or cultural heritage, while also including a focus on young voices and women writing, and of course, Kashmiri literature.
Alongside engaging discussions about the changing nature of literature are also personal readings of poetry that reflect the oral and lyrical traditions of the Valley. The festival expects this will lead to a dialogue that not only bridges the past with the present, but also spans the long cultural legacy of Kashmir and the storytellers who will carry it forward.
Honoring the Rich Culture of Kashmir
In addition to literary talks, a book fair and a cultural arts exhibition should provide a rich cultural flavor to KLF-2025. The exhibition could celebrate artistic talent in the region, highlighting contemporary works and traditional folk arts and crafts from handmade work to intricate fine arts. The book fair will have several stalls with many titles that will exhibit the astonishing range and depth of literature emerging from not only South Asia, but the world. This multitude of events has space for everyone- whether you are a book-freak, a love of poetry, art enthusiast, or a curious sapien wondering over the philosophies of life.
An Identity and Hope
KLF-2025 comes at a time when the creative scene in Kashmir is experiencing a mass revival and new generations of writers, artists, and filmmakers are exploring new forms of expression.
As the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre prepares to welcome visitors from throughout the country; a sense of expectation and excitement is growing for a weekend of talks that will be intellectually stimulating and emotionally stimulating.
In a Valley where stories have always managed to survive and soar, the Kashmir literature festival 2025 can be a reminder that literature is still one of the best methods of linking people, places, and generations.
