Embassy of India

Embassy of India

Thimphu

Press Release: Bhutan Echoes 2022: Festival of Literature, Arts & Culture - an AmritMahotsav event

The Bhutan Echoes Festival, an annual celebration of arts, literature and culture in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, is being organized on a digital platform from 22-25 April 2022. The Festival, earlier known as Mountain Echoes in an India-Bhutan initiative which was inspired by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck in 2010. Ten editions of the Mountain Echoes Literature Festival were held from 2010 till 2019.

2. The entire programme of Bhutan Echoes 2022 is a celebration of #AmritMahotsav i.e. the commemoration of 75 years of Indian independence along with Bhutanese friends, fellow Indians and the international community. The theme of Bhutan Echoes 2022 is 'Stories and Ideas for a changing World' in the background of the current times of challenges and uncertainty.

3. Well-known Indian participants in this year's Literature Festival include Namita Gokhale, Kabir Bedi, Ashwin Sanghi, Avni Doshi, Somi L. Roy, Mita Kapur, Priya Kapoor, Jhilam Chattaraj and Shivani Sibal. These writers and authors will share their experiences and learning in the individual sessions and panel discussions during the Bhutan Echoes programme.

4. While Dharmacharya Shantum Seth, renowned Buddhist scholar will be speaking about the importance of meditation and mindfulness, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj will share anecdotes and stories from her stay in Bhutan. Yoga Guru KVSSN Murthy will conduct a Yoga Workshop for Beginners and Kamer Singh, Music Teacher will present Indian classical music in the form of a prayer to the Goddess of Literature.

5. Speaking ahead of the event, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj stated: "We are pleased that the entire programme of Bhutan Echoes is also a celebration of India's Amrit Mahotsav, joining our Bhutanese friends with fellow Indians, and an international constituency".

6. The Bhutan Echoes Literature Festival is a reflection of the close people-to-people connect and the special relationship between India and Bhutan. The organization of Bhutan Echoes: Drukyul's Literature Festival 2022 has been sponsored by the India-Bhutan Foundation, as in previous years.

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22.4.2022