Image Source: The Indian Express
The annual penmanship celebration of Kolkata, Pen Utsav 2025, made waves this year with a dazzling center of attraction: Staedtler's "Bavaria" pen worth a whopping Rs 7 lakh. The fourth edition of the festival attracted collectors, writers, and enthusiasts from all over India to the ICCR, Kolkata, reminding everyone about the nostalgic handwritten word in an era dominated by the digital.
Event Overview
The Kolkata Pen Utsav 2025, or Pen Mahotsav, was organized from May 2–4 at ICCR, Kolkata, in its fourth edition.
The festival, organized by Kisalay Events, seeks to rediscover and celebrate the lost art of writing, drawing in thousands of visitors such as students, writers, collectors, and stationery enthusiasts.
Star Attraction: The Rs 7 Lakh Staedtler "Bavaria" Pen
Masterful Craftsmanship: The Staedtler "Bavaria" pen has a hand-polished 18-carat gold nib, a palladium casing, and a blue lacquer finish.
Luxury Accents: With 48 diamonds, the pen is a reflection of Bavaria, the German state where Staedtler was born.
Collector's Dream: With only 48 examples being made globally, this limited-production pen is a treasure for serious collectors.
Symbol of Tradition: The pen is the festival's symbolizing ethos-paying respect to the heritage and emotional closeness of handwriting in a digital age.
Festival Highlights
Diverse Exhibits: There were almost 25 stalls with rare, antique, and experimental pens, each with the tale behind it.
Interactive Experiences: Visitors indulged in interactive calligraphy demonstrations, nib-making workshops, and pen-testing activities.
Community Spirit: The festival created bonding among stall owners and visitors, ranging from schoolkids to veteran collectors.
Nostalgia and Emotion: Participants exchanged personal experiences and memories associated with handwriting, highlighting the strong emotional attachment to the skill of penmanship.
Voices from the Festival
"Something very personal and irretrievable about handwriting-a form of emotional closeness that missing communication cannot provide," remarked Sayak Adhya, founder of Pen Utsav.
"Picking up a fountain pen once again brought back memories of my grandfather's writing desk-of long summer afternoons spent practicing cursive," reflected college student Amrita Mukherjee.
About Pen Mahotsav
Mission: To conserve and propagate fountain pen culture in India, particularly among the younger generation.
Activities: The festival included live calligraphy, panel discussions, workshops, and special discounts for visitors.
Free Entry: The festival was free to attend, thus reaching a large audience.
Looking Ahead
With increasing participation every year, Pen Utsav goes on to bring generations together with a passion for writing and creativity. The success of the festival points towards renewed interest in craftsmanship and the art of the written word in contemporary India.
Sources: Indian Express, Shibnath.com
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