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The ninth edition of the Neev Literature Festival (NLF), held on September 20-21, 2025 at the Neev Academy, Yemalur, Bengaluru, emerged as a grand celebration of stories, creativity, and the transformative power of children’s literature. The two-day event drew over 2,000 visitors, featuring more than 134 engaging sessions and over 80 acclaimed authors from India and around the world. Focused on igniting young imaginations and nurturing reading culture, NLF 2025 was a clarion call to cultivate a generation of thoughtful readers and storytellers.
Festival Highlights: Immersive Author Interactions and Diverse Sessions
NLF showcased workshops, panel discussions, and interactive storytelling sessions tailored for young readers, budding authors, educators, and parents, fostering a community centered on literary engagement.
International authors like Lynda Mullaly Hunt and Holly Goldberg Sloan joined alongside celebrated Indian writers such as Bijal Vachharajani and Remy Lai to share insights on creative writing, publishing, and the role of literature in cultural understanding.
The festival’s rich agenda included sessions on picture books, young adults’ fiction, folklore, poetry, and graphic novels—embracing the entire spectrum of children’s literature.
Special emphasis was given to addressing contemporary social themes through literature, encouraging young minds to think, empathize, and act.
Supporting Indian Literature and Storytellers
The Neev Book Award 2024 was introduced to honor distinguished works contributing to a fuller understanding of India’s diverse stories, lives, and languages.
The festival also launched NLF Fellowships to support emerging children’s book creators, promoting innovation and inclusivity in the field.
Discussions highlighted the challenges and opportunities in India’s children’s publishing ecosystem, including language representation, accessibility, and digital transformation.
Community Outreach and Education
The festival extended beyond formal sessions with school visits, community storytelling, and reading challenges encouraging participants to read extensively and critically.
Parents and educators were engaged through panels on fostering reading habits, integrating literature into curriculum, and leveraging technology for literary access.
The festival also celebrated grassroots storytellers and traditional oral histories, ensuring multiple narrative threads find resonance in young audiences.
Celebrating Cultural Plurality and Language Diversity
Reflecting India’s multilingual heritage, NLF featured sessions in English, Hindi, Kannada, and other regional languages, underscoring the importance of linguistic diversity in storytelling.
Events celebrated folklore, mythology, and indigenous narratives, encouraging pride and preservation of cultural roots.
Cross-cultural exchanges with international authors expanded the literary horizons of attendees, fostering global empathy and understanding.
The Future of Reading and Storytelling
The Neev Literature Festival’s vision is to sustain literary enthusiasm amid digital distractions, reaffirming the centrality of books and stories in cognitive and emotional development.
Plans to scale the festival, increase digital participation, and deepen collaboration with schools and libraries were discussed to broaden impact.
The festival emphasized empowering young voices and facilitating platforms where children can share their narratives dynamically.
Conclusion
Neev Literature Festival 2025 in Bengaluru was more than just a gathering of book lovers—it was a vibrant movement championing reading, creativity, and cultural dialogue. By bringing together authors, educators, parents, and children in a shared passion for stories, NLF continues to nurture the roots of imagination and critical thinking for generations to come.
Sources: Neev Literature Festival Official Website, Deccan Herald, Instagram
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