Report: Himalayan Echoes Festival

Literature festivals often do a good job of feeding the mind but they can leave the heart famished. Ajay Bijli, Chairman and Managing Director of PVR Cinemas, and his band, Random Order, singing Hindi and English classics at the festival In conversation with Emma Horne, who runs a travel company, Nandi said, “You cannot afford to be timid. The mountain comes across as a living breathing person who is hurt by deforestation,” she said later inviting participants to sing Allama Iqbal’s well-known poem Saare Jahan Se Achchha Hindustan Hamaara with her as it has the lines “Godi mein khelti hai jiske hazaaro nadiyan.” Translating the poem from Urdu to English, Jalil said, “Here the mountain is seen as a loving avuncular presence, who allows rivers to play in his lap.” Saurabh Kirpal, whose latest book is called Who is Equal? He was disappointed when the Supreme Court did not give a verdict in favour of marriage equality but he also believes in dialogue rather condemning people who think differently because “people want to listen to you only if they see you as a reasonable person.” Local Kumaoni handicrafts being sold at the festival. The finale, which had people dancing away late into the night, was made even more delectable with Manoj Kandpal — the head chef at Hotel Sherwani —serving and talking passionately about local Kumaoni dishes such as malai gudwa, Bhatt ki churkani, pinal ki sabzi, palak ka kaapa, alu ke gutke, madua ki roti, badeel, til ki chatni, bhune tamatar ki chatni, Kumaoni raita, baingan raita, and jhingore ke kheer.