Preparations are in full swing in the capital for the eighth edition of mountain echoes literary festival.

The three-day festival begins on August 25 with themes such as natural history, environment, business and leadership, fashion, magic and mentalism, food, spirituality, and Buddhism. The festival will also embrace and explore issues like global evolution of textiles and design traditions.

According to the festival’s press release, a range of expertise and perspectives will be brought to the stage.

Bhutanese speakers include His Eminence Khedrup Rinpoche Ugyen Tenzin Thinley Lhendup, photographer, filmmaker and the author of Seeing Sacred: Lights & Shadows along the Journey, Pawo Choyning Dorji, Khenpo Sonam Bumdhen of the Central Monastic Body, and front-runners of the Bhutanese fashion industry, Chimmi Choden and Chandrika Tamang.

Australian author Markus Zusak, London-based poet Francesca Beard, actress, food expert, model, and award-winning author, Padma Lakshmi, and Indian author Ashwin Sanghi will speak at the festival.

Prayaag Akbar, award winning journalist and author of Leila; leading mythologists Devdutt Pattanaik and Sahitya Akademi, and Jerry Pinto, the author of Em and the Big Hoom, a novel for which he won the Hindu Lit for Life Award, will also be present at the festival.

Mountain Echoes literary festival is an initiative of the India-Bhutan Foundation in association with Siyahi. The festival is presented by Jaypee Group and powered by Rajasthan government’s department of tourism.

Phurpa Lhamo