DEHRADUN GEARS UP FOR A WEEKEND OF LITERATURE, ART & IMAGINATION

The festival’s sessions will dive into diverse themes such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, translation, sustainability, youth engagement, military history, media and social discourse

- NIKITA AGGARWAL

As autumn paints the Doon Valley in gold, Dehradun is preparing to open its doors to a celebration of stories, art and imagination.

The city will host the highly anticipated 9th edition of the “Valley of Words, Shabdavali (VoW) Art and Literature Festival on October 25 and 26, 2025, at Hotel Madhuban, where ideas will converge and creativity will find its home. Inaugurated by Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), the festival promises two days of vibrant dialogue, artistic performances and literary brilliance, bringing together writers, thinkers, artists and readers from across India.

Since its inception, ‘Valley of Words’ has stood as a confluence of creativity and culture, weaving together literature, art and performance into a single immersive experience. This year's edition continues that legacy, transforming Dehradun into a lively hub of discussion, discovery and artistic exploration. Across multiple venues and open-air spaces, visitors can look forward to an inspiring mix of panel discussions, literary sessions, workshops, exhibitions and performances that celebrate storytelling in every possible form, from the written word and visual expression to theatre, music and dance.