4th Konark Literary Festival Illuminates Arkakhetra with Words and Wisdom
Konark, Sept 15: The 4th Konark Literary Festival, organized by Sahitya Sanskruti Samaroh, was held on September 13 and 14 at Arkakhetra, Konark, drawing eminent writers, poets, and scholars into two days of profound literary celebration.
The inaugural day on September 13 was graced by Shri Prithvi Raj Harichandan, Hon’ble Minister of Law, Works and Excise, who inaugurated the festival with inspiring words on the enduring relevance of literature in uniting cultures and enriching society. Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty, renowned essayist and former Principal of Ravenshaw College, was a distinguished guest, while Shri Prabhas Acharya, former printer and editor of The Samaj, attended as Chief Guest.
Dr. Phani Mohanty, Kendra Sahitya Akademi awardee and eminent poet, chaired the session as Chairman of Sahitya Sanskruti Samaroh.
The leadership team—President Goura Chandra Mahapatra, Secretary and Organizer Pranab Chhotray, and Vice President Madhuri Pattnaik—ensured a seamless conduct of the programmes. The day also witnessed the release of the festival souvenir Smaranika along with several books authored by writers.
The second day on September 14 brought further intellectual richness with Prof. Padmashree Debi Prasanna Pattnaik as Chief Guest, delivering a highly scholarly address on the historicity of Odia language and literature, tracing its roots from the Vedic and Charyapada periods to modern Odia literature. His erudite lecture was deeply appreciated by all dignitaries. Prof. Manoranjan attended as Guest of Honour, while Dr. Phani Mohanty presided as Chairperson and eminent poet Susma Mishra also graced the dais.
The literary highlight of the day was a panel discussion on “Translation and Transcreation”, presided over by Prof. Chittaranjan Bhoi, with wide participation from multilingual authors. This was followed by a multilingual poetry session, chaired by poet Mamta Das, where poets recited in Assamese, Bangla, Odia, Nepali, Kortha, Punjabi, Hindi, Telugu, and Indian English, showcasing India’s linguistic diversity.
Another milestone was the release of Batayan Sharadiya by the honoured guests on the dais. Edited by Satyabrata Jena, who is also Exucitive Editor of The Common Times, an English daily, the magazine added depth to the festival’s literary offerings.
The two-day event was anchored in three languages—Dr. Sonali Sahu (English), Dr. Sanghamitra Raiguru (Hindi), and Paramita Sarangi (Odia)—adding multilingual vibrancy to the proceedings.
The festival concluded with the felicitation of distinguished contributors, embodying Sahitya Sanskruti Samaroh’s mission to nurture creativity, honour talent, and foster cultural dialogue. With its blend of intellectual debate, multilingual poetry, and literary releases, the Konark Literary Festival reaffirmed Konark’s stature as a beacon of India’s literary and cultural heritage.
