Shillong, Nov 20: The fifth edition of the Shillong Literary Festival at Ward’s Lake, drawing 60 prominent writers, poets, filmmakers and thinkers from India and around the world.
International Booker Prize winner Banu Mustaq and Francesc Miralles, bestselling author of Ikigai, headlined the inauguration. They were joined by festival curator Malavika Banerjee, Meghalaya Tourism Commissioner Vijay Kumar D and Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya Cyril V. D. Diengdoh.
In her address, Mustaq praised Shillong’s “rain-soaked poetry and quiet strength,” saying the festival captured the way “landscapes shape literature.” Miralles described Shillong as a “little paradise” and said he looked forward to his sessions on Ikigai and his new book Namaste.
Curator Banerjee highlighted the festival’s broad programming, noting that this year’s edition blends internationally recognised voices with strong regional representation. She said the event is designed to serve as a space for “thoughtful conversations rather than debates.”
For the first time, the festival has dedicated sessions on Khasi and Garo literature, featuring noted writers such as Streamlet Dkhar, Janice Pariat, Aiyinti Nongbri, Barbara Sangma and Colnat B. Marak. Garo filmmaker Domnic Sangma, actors Rajat Kapoor and Vinay Pathak, and musician Gino Banks are also set to participate.
The three-day festival will continue through the weekend, celebrating literature, culture and the power of storytelling in the heart of Shillong.
