Diverse sessions mark grand conclusion of literary celebration

Four days of intense intellectual exchange, cultural celebration, and artistic showcase came to a vibrant close as the 12th Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) 2026 concluded at the Mayfair Convention. This year, the festival successfully solidified its reputation as a powerhouse of South Asian dialogue, bringing together diverse voices from the worlds of cinema, journalism, politics, and literature.

Sunday marked the finale of this grand event, offering attendees a rich schedule packed with thought-provoking sessions. Early discussions set a high tone, bridging the gap between governance and creativity. Notable sessions included "Prashasan O Odia Sahitya," which featured insights from Amrit Ruturaj and Kiran Kumar Mohanty. The morning also explored the lighter side of media with "Humour in Media: Rethinking Cartoons," while senior journalist Chitra Subramaniam captivated the audience with stories from her career in "Life and Times of a Journalist."

Music and philosophy remained central themes throughout the day. Spiritual leader Acharya Prashanth engaged the youth with discussions on Indian philosophy and tradition. Meanwhile, the relationship between melody and words was explored in "Hrudae Shabda Hruda Ku Chhuen," featuring celebrated names like Bijaya Mall and Ratikanta Satpathy.

International perspectives added significant weight to the final day’s proceedings. Highlighting the global relevance of the Kalinga Literary Festival 2026, Australian High Commissioner Philip Green OAM discussed "Why India Matters" from an Australian viewpoint. Another major crowd-puller was the session "Poetry as Resistance, Fiction as Freedom," where acclaimed translator Daisy Rockwell engaged in a deep conversation with Kanishk Gupta.

Reflecting on the massive success of the event, Founder and Director Rashmi Ranjan Parida emphasized that the festival is about more than just books. He noted that the four-day gathering, which hosted over 100 sessions, stood for the "courage to question and connect across cultures."

Echoing these sentiments, KLF Patron and CEO Ashok Kumar Bal described the festival as a "living bridge" connecting languages and generations. From the opening ceremony attended by Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo to the final poetry recitals, the 12th edition of the festival has once again proven to be a vital platform for civilisational thought and cultural continuity in Odisha.