Bhutan to host Mountain Echoes Literary Festival

New Delhi: The happiest country of the world, Bhutan, is soon to host aspecial sixth edition of the Mountain Echoes literary festival in its capital Thimphu.

An initiative of the India-Bhutan Foundation, in association with Siyahi, the festival will coincide with the year-long celebrations of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck's 60th birthday in Bhutan. Every year, the festival hosts writers, poets, visual artists, curators, film critics and commentators from the world over, who engage in cultural dialogue and interactions on myriad subjects, in scenic Thimphu for three days.

The chief royal patron for the festival is none other than Her Majesty The Royal Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck herself.

The festival will also be a chance to meet some of the greatest literary minds of the world with sessions at the Royal Banquet Hall and Hotel Taj Tashi. There are also workshops and film screenings that will be held at the Tarayana Centre for workshops and film screenings. Browse through art exhibitions at the cultural heart of Thimphu, Nehru-Wangchuck Cultural Centre.

The festival also boasts of a musical festival featuring Bhutanese rock and Indie pop bands at the Clock Tower Square and Open Mic at Mojo Park music lounge.

Several speakers are going to attend the festivals including Bestselling Author and Entrepreneur, Ashwin Sanghi, journalist Bahar Dutt, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, best-selling Author, Chetan Bhagat, author Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen, author, Dr. Yonten Dargye, actor Kalki Koechin, scholar - historian and meditation teacher Khenpo Phuntsok Tashi.

Bollywood filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, Suhel Seth, wildlife enthusiast and conservationist Tshering Tempa will also be present at the festival which will be held from August 20 to August 22.