The first day of the Ilam Literary Festival 2083 featured discussions on poetry, short stories, journalism, and tourism. During the session on the grandeur of tourism, tourism entrepreneur Amir Rai expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s approach to tourism promotion. The Hangyukjunita Literary Prize worth NPR 50,000 was awarded to Sundar Kurup at the festival. On 18th Baishakh, Ilam, the cultural procession that began from Tundikhel culminated at Gautam Buddha Auditorium, marking a grand celebration. Although the festival centers on literary figures, ongoing debates on various national issues have expanded its scope.
The Ilam Literary Festival 2083 commenced in Ilam, with the first day witnessing serious discussions on themes relating to poetry, narrative writing, journalism, and tourism. Under the theme ‘From Heritage to Reels,’ participants reflected on diverse contexts of poetry. Vinodvikram KC, Ramesh Chandra Adhikari, Samdarshi Kaila, and Rima KC discussed the current state and future possibilities of poetry writing, with session moderation by Walika Thapaliya. Following the poetry session, Basant Basnet, chief editor of an online news portal, delivered a talk titled ‘Digital Meat and Rice and Us Journalists.’
In the session titled ‘The Grandeur of Tourism: The Foundation of Prosperity,’ possibilities, opportunities, and challenges facing Nepal’s tourism development were deliberated. Speakers emphasized the necessity of constructing tourism infrastructure while preserving the environment. Participants included Niroj Kattel, officer at the Kakadbhitta Tourism Office; Susila Sapkota, former president of the Ilam Chamber of Commerce and Industry; tourism entrepreneur Amir Rai; and journalist Giriraj Banskota. A debate on short stories and sub-stories followed, involving Keshav Dahal, Uma Subedi, Amar Nyaupane, Shyam Singhak, and Shailendra Adhikari. Later, a Ghazal evening was held.
During the Ghazal evening, performers such as Yognidhi Bhattarai, GR Nyaupane, Pavitra Prayatan, Bhuimanche, Loken Khatibada, Sagar Bagar, and Sindhu Niraula presented their pieces. Prakash Thamsuhang, president of the organizing body, Nagar Sahitya Kala Sangeet Pratisthan Ilam, informed that multiple sessions would continue on Saturday. As part of the honor and release program, Sundar Kurup received the Hangyukjunita Literary Prize of NPR 50,000, and Kavita Nepal was awarded the Radhika Nembang Memorial Award.
Dinesh DC and singer Pushpan Pradhan were honored by Ilam Municipality. Additionally, mountaineer Junita Subba’s poetry collection “Priya Atman” and the organization’s souvenir were launched. The literary festival also raised concerns related to tourism. Operating a hotel business in the remote border area of Panchthar and Taplejung districts, situated at 4,200 meters altitude, demands significant courage from entrepreneurs coming from outside the district to the Kanchanjunga region. Amir Rai, originally from Jhapa, has been running a hotel business for six years near Timbung Pokhari on the Panchthar-Taplejung border, a place where the rare ‘Kenjo’ flower blooms.
At the fifth edition of the Ilam Literary Festival, the discussion titled ‘The Grandeur of Tourism, The Foundation of Prosperity,’ facilitated by journalist Giriraj Banskota, featured panelist Amir Rai voicing dissatisfaction with the government’s tourism promotion strategies. He highlighted tourism entrepreneurs’ challenges and the state’s shortsightedness in the high Himalayan region, where trade is only viable for four months annually. Rai lamented that budgets allocated from local to provincial governments for tourism are akin to “pouring water into sand.” Panelist Susila Sapkota warned of the risk businesses face if tourism promotion through digital media fails.
She emphasized that although the government allocates budgets via various agencies for homestays, without the active involvement of entrepreneurs, financial benefits remain unlikely. Tourism Office officer Niroj Kattel claimed the government is working to make such tourism more effective. He noted the recent rise in tourists arriving from West Bengal, India, to Ilam, Panchthar, and Taplejung, and expressed optimism about attracting cross-border tourists by partnering with tour operators in Darjeeling, a bordering area.
