From over 4 million people attending the celebrated Jaipur Literature Festival to 150 passionate guests attending the first Mizoram Literature Festival in October 2024, Literature festivals are thriving and how! In an exclusive chat with Business Today, Milee Ashwarya, publisher at Penguin Random House India, highlighted the surge in reading among young Indians, noting that “people are reading more than ever.” Contrary to predictions made a decade ago that people would stop reading with the advent of technology, the opposite has proven true. Students under the academic pressure of India’s competitive education system have found refuge in books. Likewise, adults seeking digital detox and reduced screen time have found their way back to avid reading. More and more people flock to lit fests and book fairs, making them a beautiful space for readers, writers, publishers, academics and curious onlookers to come together.
In a country as diverse and multilingual as India, literary fests have become nothing less than a heaven for readers and authors alike. They are playing a significant role in reshaping how stories are told and heard. Here’s how authors, especially the new and emerging ones can make the most of this cultural surge:
1.Networking (duh)
Do not, I repeat, do not underestimate the power of literary fests when it comes to networking. You can strike up a conversation with a fellow writer in a queue for coffee or find 25 people who like the same book you thought only you had read! So what if initially you are not on a speaking panel? The venue is all yours. Interact as much as you can, and build your community. Subtly promote your book or blog. The tiniest amount of effort adds up to increase your visibility. Not to make it sound like a pep talk, but sometimes merely showing up matters, literary fests are one of those places.
2.Beyond the Page
Literary fests offer one thing that the internet could never, a live engaged audience. Panel discussions, book launches, readings, and Q&A sessions put authors directly in touch with readers. Many authors start as attendees and, by participating actively, eventually get invited to speak in future editions. Pro tip: Research the author speaking on the panel beforehand and then ask an intriguing question about their book during the Q&A round. Not only will you get noticed, you will be remembered.
3.Learning and Skill Building
Haven’t we all seen someone give an effortless answer to a tricky question while on stage and wondered just how were they able to do that with such grace and poise? Here, instead of wondering, we must observe. Witnessing authors on stage can offer a masterclass in craft and industry know-how. You get to watch seasoned authors handle questions, pitch ideas, and talk about their creative process. From writing techniques to publishing insights, the learning opportunities are everywhere!
4.Growth of Regional Literature
One of the most heartwarming aspects of the literature festivals that took place in the recent past was the growing presence of regional literature. More panels now feature works in Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Urdu, Marathi, and lesser-known languages like Bodo or Santali. For decades, Literature fests were elite spaces dominated by English-language literature. Now, regional voices are reclaiming their very well-deserved space, and literary festivals are amplifying that shift. Regional stories are being translated and published nationally. More and more publishers are actively scouting for new voices outside metro cities. For authors writing in or about regional cultures, this is your moment to shine! Showcase the beauty of your mother tongue and stand out.
5.Inclusivity and Rapid Democratisation
In recent years, many Literature festivals have transformed themselves into accessible, community-driven events. Either Free or low-cost, hosted in open public spaces, and often live-streamed to reach wider audiences across geographies. This shift has paved the way for greater inclusivity, allowing Dalit, queer, tribal, and working-class voices hitertho underrepresented in mainstream literary discourse to step into the spotlight. Our literary landscape is not just expanding, it’s being redefined. Panels now feature diverse languages, lived experiences, and socio-political perspectives, reflecting the rich and complex realities of India. Authors who once felt excluded from the traditional canon are now finding both visibility and validation. In this new, more democratic space, the idea of who gets to tell stories and who gets to be heard is evolving.
Annually, from October to February, the literary fests lined up in different cities bring a much needed pause, a place for people can gather and connect through literature, No less than a nation-wide celebration of art, literary festivals have become movements in bringing people who love the smell of old yellow pages in a time of overwhelming digitalization.