Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 to Begin Jan 15, Brings Global Writers Together in World’s Largest Free Literary Gathering

The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2026, often called the world’s largest literary gathering, is set to take place from January 15 to 19 at Hotel Clarks Amer in Jaipur. Now in its 19th edition, the festival will bring together more than 500 speakers and host over 300 sessions that span literature, history, politics, science, technology, art, climate action, poetry and global issues.

Organised annually by Teamwork Arts and the Jaipur Virasat Foundation, the festival’s programme will be spread across iconic venues such as Front Lawn, Charbagh, Surya Mahal, Durbar Hall and Baithak. Speakers include internationally acclaimed writers, thinkers and cultural figures, making this year’s edition one of the most comprehensive and diverse in recent memory.

The event continues JLF’s tradition of inclusive dialogue and cultural exchange, inviting audiences to engage directly with voices from around the world. Sessions will explore contemporary issues alongside literary art, offering attendees a dynamic and immersive intellectual experience.

Unique Importance:
• Global Reach: With speakers from India and abroad, JLF has become a major platform for international literary and cultural discourse.
• Diverse Themes: The festival goes beyond books to include debates on science, politics, climate and social change, making it relevant to a wide audience
• Open Engagement: Traditionally free or affordable to attend for most sessions, JLF fosters democratic access to ideas and creativity.
• Cultural Integration: By blending literary discussions with music, performance and art, the festival celebrates India’s cultural diversity and global narratives in one space.

Organisers and fans alike say JLF is more than a festival — it’s a confluence of ideas and conversations that transcends boundaries and connects readers, writers, thinkers and creators from across the globe.

 

Ramayan Mela Delhi-2026: A Grand Cultural and Spiritual Festival in India’s Capital

The much-anticipated Ramayan Mela Delhi-2026 is set to open on January 14, 2026, at Pocket-52, DDA Park in C.R. Park, New Delhi. Organized by the Sri Vishwakarma International Foundation Trust and managed by its Cultural Management Committee, the week-long festival will run until January 20, welcoming visitors daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 

The Mela aims to celebrate India’s timeless epic, the Ramayana, by bringing its spiritual and cultural values to life through a rich blend of performances, exhibitions, workshops, and immersive experiences. It is designed for enthusiasts of all ages — from families and students to scholars and cultural tourists.

A major highlight includes daily Ramleela enactments featuring professional troupes from across India, dramatizing key chapters of Lord Rama’s journey from Ayodhya to Lanka. A specially curated Ramayan Theme Exhibition will display paintings, manuscripts, sculptures, and modern digital art inspired by the epic.

The festival also offers a variety of cultural performances, including folk dances like Lavani and Kathakali, classical music evenings focused on devotional compositions, and storytelling sessions by renowned Kathavachaks who will share philosophical insights from the Ramayana in Hindi, Sanskrit, and regional languages.

In addition to performance art, the mela features workshops on Sanskrit chanting, puppetry storytelling, and traditional costume and weaponry of Ramayana characters, alongside a Spiritual Practices and Wellness Zone that includes morning meditation and Ayurveda exhibitions.

Visitors will also enjoy the Ramayana Bazaar — a marketplace of over 100 stalls showcasing traditional handicrafts, organic products, books, and regional delicacies — as well as a spectacular Ramayan Tableau Parade and an eco-friendly Lankadahan and Ravan Dahan ceremony on the final day.

With free entry for all, the Ramayan Mela 2026 promises to be a vibrant celebration of India’s heritage, culture, and spiritual legacy, inviting citizens and tourists alike to immerse themselves in one of the world’s oldest and most cherished narratives. 

The Cosmic Script: How Mahakaal Writes Our Story

God watches over every small and big action of ours and plans everything for us. Honestly, God is truly awesome.

Then, there’s Kaal — an incredibly crucial planner. He knows exactly how, in this massive population, a certain number of people are destined to die at a particular time. But the real challenge lies in how it will happen and how to gather those souls together at the same moment. That’s where Kaal comes in.

He meticulously plans for everyone, and when the time is right, he sets an incident in motion. What we often perceive as a tragedy or accident is, in reality, not an accident at all. Our birth and death are predetermined long before we arrive on this earth. Kaal is merely the executor of that cosmic script.

And who is Kaal?

Mahakaal — none other than Lord Shiva himself. There is no one above Shiva. He is the ultimate force, the supreme planner, the one who governs time, destiny, and eternity.

In conclusion: There’s no planner greater than Lord Shiva.

The Fear in Their Eyes

Old ones fear death, I know it well,
But seeing that fear—oh, it's a hell.
Two-thirds of life, I've left behind,
The last phase whispers, cruel yet kind.

This body frail, this soul confined,
One day, I'll leave this shell behind.
But before I go, my heart does ache,
For those whose hands once held my fate.

I see my parent, lone and still,
They lost their love—now time’s cruel will.
They wait, they know, the end is near,
Yet silent bear the weight of fear.

A child I am, yet helpless too,
To see them fade, what can I do?
We dread the day, we beg for more,
But Nature knocks on every door.

Those who come must one day part,
A truth that shatters every heart.
Yet, if souls could choose to stay,
I’d wish them near, just one more day.

Kaash amar ho jaate vo,
Aatma ban saath nibhate vo.
But such is life, and such is fate,
Only God remains—forever great.

Reading beyond what’s visible

We feel like we are growing, sensing people, their actions, and reactions, but it’s not as simple as it seems. Even when we are close to God, almost able to see Him around us all the time, we can still misunderstand what others truly are. We may observe their actions, but we can’t always see through them. It’s only when His love intervenes, revealing what we need to see, that we realize the lesson we’re meant to learn at that moment.

Why didn’t we see the truth sooner? Because if we had, we’d have been too guarded, not truly ready for the lessons life wanted to teach us. "Nothing in life is permanent except Him."

We often don’t accept people who aren’t like us. Just as water mixes with water and oil with oil, we feel comfortable with what’s similar. Water and oil are never meant to mix. We may grow close to someone, but a small mismatch will prevent full harmony. The lesson here is, we can be near God, but we cannot yet be one with Him, because we are still imperfect. We have our impurities. When we struggle to accept people who aren’t entirely true to us, how can we expect to be one with God unless we are fully aligned with Him?

If we surrender to God, He shows us how to become like Him. He takes care of every step we take, guiding us in every moment. Life is like a wheel: after each period of disappointment, there will be a time of joy, where we reflect on what we’ve learned and move forward. With every bad phase, the lessons become shorter, and eventually, there will be no more bad phases. We will have learned everything we need to, and we’ll be ready to unite with God. This is the state of ultimate bliss, where we are immersed in tears of love and divine peace. I hope we all experience this in this lifetime.

Forgive those who hurt you, for they came into your life to teach you something essential for your spiritual growth. Wishing maturity, sensibility, and peace to all.