The tenth edition of mountain echoes literary festival began today in Thimphu. The event started with a talk by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the royal patron of the festival.
As a tribute, Her Majesty talked about Late Yab Dasho Ugyen Dorji and shared stories of his life with the audience. The event which is an initiative of the Bhutan India Foundation brings together artists such as writers, biographers, historians, and environmentalists among others to engage in cultural dialogue, share stories, create memories and spend their blissful days in the mountains.
Themed “Many Lives, Many Stories”, the 2019 edition seeks to explore the depth of human experiences through narratives from distinguished speakers of Bhutan, India and the world. This year, the event has 60 speakers; 34 are from Bhutan, 17 from India and 9 international speakers.
“The prestige of mountain echoes has grown as is evident from the fact that in the past, we had to invite an entice writer to come. But now many are writing in to be part of this gathering,” said Kelly Dorji, the festival director.
Speakers will explore contemporary dialogues ranging from ecology to travel stories that resonate deeply with individuals. Along with the perspectives on spiritual education and sessions illustrating the art of cinematic storytelling, this year’s programme will showcase engaging tales through food, fashion, wellness and business.
Last year, mountain echoes saw 12000 people attend the three-day festival in all the venues. Due to the added value from social media, they expect the number to increase this year.
Pop-up bazaar, a curtain-raiser to the mountain echoes was held in Paro on 17th August. The pop-up bazaar featured food, drinks and modern music by young entrepreneurs and talents.
