SATV, Kathmandu, July. 03 - The Ratoghar Literature Festival concluded, exploring the themes of culture, heritage and the city.
Organised by the Ratoghar Foundation, the celebration unfolded at the Nepalbhasha Manka Khala premised in Bijeshwari, Kathmandu, opening on a distinctly cultural note with the offering of koko mehndo tika-prasad and the sweet strains of the selo melody played on the tungna and dhamphu, accompanied by the beat of the dhime.
The first session of the day, facilitated by poet Bishwa Sigdel, brought together a gathering of celebrated poets who turned their verses towards heritage and civilisation. Reciting their work were Usha Sherchan, Laxmi Mali, Bhishma Upreti, Avaya Shrestha, Rajanimila, Uttam Raut, Geeta Tripathi, Rajani Dhakal, Sulochana Manandhar Dhital, Prollas Sindhuliya, Deepak Sapkota, Bhojraj Neupane, Ramgopal Aashutosh, Rasikraj, Shakuntala Joshi, Laxmi Rumba, Suman Sangam, Bina Nemkul, Rita Khatri, Kisan Poudel and Juman Kiran, among others.
The occasion also carried a note of recognition. Ramesh Kaji Sthapit received the 'Ratoghar Author Honour' and Dr. Shankarman Rai the 'Ratoghar Outstanding Service Honour', each accompanied by a cash award of Rs. 25,025. Foundation vice-chairperson Basudev Adhikari introduced the two honoured figures to the audience. Adding to the day's significance, the gathering witnessed the launch of 'Tah Wa Pakhah Ta', a Nepalbhasha rendering of Sneh Sayami's Nepali poetry collection, translated by Rameshkaji Sthapit.
Conversation then turned to weightier questions. Under the title ‘Yo Sahar Kasko Ho?’ (Whose City Is This?), Sudarshan Raj Tiwari and Malla K. Sundar reflected on the indigenous culture, heritage and civilisation of the Kathmandu Valley now slipping quietly into disappearance, in a session moderated by Deepak Sameer. A second discussion, titled 'Swaniga, Yambu and the City of Heritage', drew three local leaders to the stage - Kathmandu Metropolitan City Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol, Lalitpur Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Manjali Shakya and Madhyapur Thimi Municipality Deputy Mayor Bijaya Krishna Shrestha. With Chairperson Sneh Sayami facilitating, the representatives spoke candidly about how they hope to balance development with the preservation of culture and indigenous structures across their jurisdictions, in an exchange many found both engaging and fruitful.
As the programme drew to a close, the spotlight returned to poetry, this time in the mother tongues. Narad Bajracharya, Nabin Prakash Shrestha, Bina Thing, Ajitman Lama, Ishwar Thokar, Chandra Bahadur Lama, Basanta Nakarmi, Hisilina Shakya, Rahena Nakarmi Manandhar, Rashmi Napit, Ritesh Tripathi, Tilak Chamling Rai, Rajeshwari Rajopadhyaya, Arjun Maharjan and Raj Akshobhya read their verses in a session facilitated by poet Rajanimila. In her closing remarks, Foundation General Secretary Anita Lama thanked all who had taken part and affirmed that the Ratoghar Foundation would carry such programmes forward, continuing to honour those who serve literature and society. Chairperson Sneha Sayami echoed the sentiment, pledging to organise more events rooted in indigenous heritage and literature. The festival was co-organised by the Bartaman Kabita Samuha, Suresh Kiran Smriti Guthi and Nepal Bhasha Manka Khala, and was conducted by poet Ramipriya.
