Dehradun Literature Festival: A celebration of stories, ideas and community

Nestled in the serene foothills of the Himalayas, Dehradun came alive once again as it played host to the much-anticipated Dehradun Literature Festival (DDLF).

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An annual celebration of literature, culture, and the arts, DDLF has emerged as a melting pot for some of the most brilliant minds in the literary world. This year, under the stewardship of Samraant Virmani, the festival, in its sixth installment, not only retained its charm but also soared to new heights with an array of engaging sessions, diverse voices, and an expanded vision.

Samraant Virmani, the festival's Founder and Producer, describes DDLF as "a celebration of stories and storytellers, of ideas that shape us and the world we inhabit." In an exclusive conversation with The Sunday Guardian that revealed his deep passion for the literary arts, Samraant opened up about the journey of the festival, the challenges faced, and his vision for its future.

"When we started the festival in 2016, it was a modest attempt to bring literature closer to the people of Dehradun," says Samraant.

"Dehradun has always been a culturally rich city, but there was a lack of platforms where literary voices could be celebrated. We wanted to fill that gap and create something the city could truly call its own." Since its inception, DDLF has grown exponentially, attracting some of the biggest names in literature, art, cinema, and media. This year's edition was a testament to the festival's widening horizons, featuring an eclectic mix of speakers ranging from authors and poets to filmmakers, journalists, and social influencers. Some of the major participants included Imtiaz Ali, Rajit Kapur, Jerry Pinto, Anupama Chopra, Yatindra Mishra, Abhinav Bindra, Wasim Barelvi, Bir Singh, Penaz Masani, Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Trinetra, Ajay Jain, Aditi Maheshwari Goyal, Sandhya Mridul, Maria Goretti, and Shabana Azmi.

Samraant's vision for the festival is firmly rooted in the belief that literature is not limited to books alone.