Ayodhya festival to showcase literature and arts March 21-22

A two-day literature and arts festival will take place in Ayodhya on March 21-22. The event will celebrate the city's rich cultural heritage with participation from poets, historians, authors, musicians, and artists from across India. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will open the festival, which is sponsored by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department. The main events will occur at Raj Sadan, the former palace of Ayodhya's royal family. Topics will include the city’s spiritual journey, its legacy, music from the Awadh region, and local cuisine and artwork. Another feature will be an exhibition honoring filmmaker Raj Kapoor's 100th anniversary and his impact on cinema. The festival will also include food stalls serving local dishes, showcases of traditional crafts, and opportunities for audience members to interact with artists. Notable speakers will include Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Ayodhya city mayor Girish Pati Tripathi. Well-known participants like writer Prasoon Joshi, folk singer Malini Awasthi, journalist Anant Vijay, and classical dancer Manjari Chaturvedi will also be part of the festival. Co-directors Yatindra Mishra and Minhal Hasan aim to boost the local economy through this event. Mishra expressed hope that the festival would revive traditions and provide a platform for both famous artists and those whose work is often overlooked in Ayodhya.