The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2025, hailed as the world’s largest literary celebration, commenced today in the vibrant Pink City. This five-day event will bring together over 300 speakers from around the globe to discuss pressing global and national issues, offering a grand fusion of literature, art, and music.

The festival kicked off with a joint welcome address by festival Directors Namita Gokhale, William Dalrymple, and Sanjoy K. Roy. The lively inaugural ceremony included traditional Rajasthani hospitality, featuring bands, music, and the captivating Kachhi Ghodi dance to greet authors and guests.

This year’s sessions will cover an extensive range of topics, including intense geopolitical matters, the impacts of war and conflict, along with themes like food, poetry, sports, and cinema.

A key highlight on the opening day will be a lecture by Nobel laureate scientist Venki Ramakrishnan, who will discuss ‘Bridging the Gap between Arts and Science’ at the Front Lawns of JLF.

The festival also features numerous renowned writers, poets, filmmakers, and artists, such as Javed Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali, Sudha Murthy, and Prajakta Koli. Along with them, numerous luminaries of Indian and global literature will contribute to this grand gathering. The event, running until February 3, promises over five exciting days of literary dialogues, cultural showcases, and musical performances to captivate audiences.

The JLF 2025 continues its tradition of being a platform for knowledge, ideas, and conversation, as it celebrates its 18th edition.

An integral aspect of the festival is the Jaipur Bookmark (JBM), which will highlight the significance of translation once again this year. A curated rights catalogue of 58 titles in 10 Indian languages will be released by 31 publishers, promoting literary exchange between Indian and international languages.

As in previous years, JLF 2025 will be a remarkable meeting point for literature, art, culture, and ideas, drawing scholars, writers, artists, and literary enthusiasts from across the globe. This prestigious event will further the promotion of global literature and emphasize the value of translation in bridging cultures.