Timeless Ayodhya Festival

Prasoon Joshi

Prasoon Joshi is an Indian poet, writer, lyricist, screenwriter, and communication specialist. He was appointed as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification on 11 August 2017. Prasoon has received the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist several times, including the National Film Award for Best Lyrics twice, for his work in Taare Zameen Par (2007) and Chittagong (2013). He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2015 for his contributions to the fields of arts, literature, and advertising. Recently, he wrote and curated a highly acclaimed musical drama on the life of Lord Krishna, titled Rajadhiraj. His notable books include Thinking Aloud and Sunshine Lanes.

Bhupender Yadav

Bhupender Yadav is a BJP leader from Rajasthan and the current Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He began his political career as General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad in 2000 and later became BJP’s National Secretary in 2010 and National General Secretary in 2014. He has held key roles in multiple elections, including for Rajasthan (2013), Jharkhand (2014), and Gujarat. Bhupender is the Member of Parliament from Alwar and was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2018.As Minister for Labour and Environment (2021–2024), he has proven his commitment to hard work and principles in every role.

Malini Awasthi

Malini Awasthi is a renowned exponent of Indian folk and classical music. She trained at Bhatkhande Music University and Lucknow University, specialising in Thumri, Kajri, Dadra, and regional folk traditions in various dialects. Mentored by Girija Devi and Ustad Rahat Ali Khan, she has gained national and international recognition. She has received prestigious awards such as the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. As the founder of Sonchiraiya, she promotes traditional folk music, using her voice to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity.

Anant Vijay

Anant Vijay, a senior journalist, columnist, and author, has over two and a half decades of experience in journalism. Currently associated with Dainik Jagran, India’s largest Hindi daily, he is widely recognized for his insightful writing on cinema, art, and culture. He was honoured with the National Award – Swarna Kamal for Best Writing on Cinema and has also received the prestigious Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Samman. With 14 books spanning various genres, he is the author of bestsellers such as 'Marxwad ka Ardhsatya' and 'Amethi Sangram: Dynasty to Democracy.' His latest book, 'Over the Top – OTT ka Mayajaal,' explores the world of digital entertainment. Currently, he is working on a book about Kashmir. Vijay also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Executive Council at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.

Vidya Shah

Vidya Shah is a singer and musician from New Delhi, India. She has performed at national and international forums, including the Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior and The Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C. She is a recipient of the Charles Wallace Award and a Senior Fellowship from the Government and the Tagore scholarship 2023, from the Govt of India. She was the Nana Shirgaokar Chair Professor for Indian Music at Goa University for 2016-20. Shah made her Bollywood debut in the film Manto with the Nazm Bol ke lab Azad hain tere.

Richa Anirudha

Richa Anirudh is the producer and anchor of the YouTube show Zindagi With Richa. She previously hosted Zindagi Live on IBN7 and ETV Network, which won Best Talk Show in all six seasons and was considered India’s version of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Known for addressing social issues, her motto is “Telling Stories, Touching Lives.” From 2014 to 2022, she was an RJ on 92.7 BIG FM, hosting Dilli Meri Jaan and Big Heroes, highlighting civic concerns and unsung social heroes. She founded Jamghat – Chat for Change, an initiative for youth inspiration, and runs Jamghat Pathshala, a pavement school for underprivileged children. She has been an Expert Advisor on Kaun Banega Crorepati since 2011 and a jury member for the Global Teacher Prize. A Chevening Gurukul Scholar (2012), she has received multiple awards, including an Honorary Professorship from Amity University, Gwalior.

Anwar Khan Mangniyar

Padma Shri Ustad Anwar Khan Mangniyar is a distinguished Rajasthani Manganiar musician, known for his mastery in folk, Sufi, and traditional music of western Rajasthan. He has performed across India and internationally, including in Russia, Japan, the USA, and Europe. Anwar Khan has collaborated with legends like Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. He is an approved artist of All India Radio, Doordarshan, and ICCR and has received several awards, including the Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Academy Award.

Vikram Sampath

Vikram Sampath is a historian and the author of ten bestselling books, including Splendours of Royal Mysore, Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past, Savarkar: A Contested Legacy, Bravehearts of Bharat and Waiting for Shiva. In 2021, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Historical Society in the UK. He received the Sahitya Akademi’s Yuva Puraskar and the ARSC International Award for My Name Is Gauhar Jaan, later adapted into a play. He holds a doctorate from the University of Queensland and was a fellow at leading global institutions. He founded AIM and FIHCR.

Yatindra Mishra

Yatindra Mishra is a distinguished poet, author, music and cinema scholar. He has authored five poetry collections along with acclaimed works on Thumri singer Girija Devi, danseuse Sonal Mansingh, Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan, playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and authorized biography of filmmaker Gulzar. He edited the anthology on Ghazal singer Begum Akhtar. Recipient of many awards, including Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar, Kalinga Book Award, International Vatayan Poetry Award, London and many other. His book 'Lata: Sur-Gatha' won 6 awards in a year, including the prestigious 64th National Film Award (Swarna Kamal) for best writing on cinema and Mami Mumbai Film Festival Award, Mumbai. He was the member of Mohammed Rafi Centenary Celebration and Implementation Committee at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI, Goa), Jury Chairman for best writing of 69th National Film Awards, Jury Member for 66th National Films Awards, 52nd IFFI, and speaker at the 48th IFFI, Goa. Conceptualized and curated a 50 days series of musical celebration titled 'Shree Ram Raag Sewa'.

Chandraprakash Dwivedi

Chandraprakash Dwivedi, born into a family of Sanskrit scholars, developed a passion for ancient Indian scriptures, literature, and history from an early age. He began writing and directing short plays inspired by Puranic literature, winning awards for his work. His notable plays include Vetal Uvach, Eklavya, and Khagras. In 1991, he created the landmark TV series Chanakya, which became famous for its authenticity, research, and portrayal of Indian Nationalism. He went on to direct Mrityunjay, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Upanishad Ganga, and Surajya Sanhita, winning numerous accolades. Dwivedi's film career includes Pinjar, which earned him a National Film Award, and Mohalla Assi, Zed Plus, and Samrat Prithviraj. As Creative Producer, he contributed to Ramsetu and Oh My God 2. He has authored scripts for multimedia shows on Indian heritage. Awarded the Padma Shri in 2022, Dwivedi is also a member of various cultural advisory boards and holds positions at Rishihood University, Chanakya University, and Deccan Education Society.

Manjari Chaturvedi

Manjari Chaturvedi is a classical dancer, creator of Sufi Kathak, and restorer of the dance of Tawaifs. A TEDx speaker, cultural academic, and choreographer, she has performed over 500 concerts in 36 countries with 406 musicians across 24 productions. She pioneered The Courtesan Project (2009), highlighting the artistic contributions of Tawaifs, and The Qawwali Project (2011) to preserve mystical music. Through extensive research and performance, she reclaims lost narratives in dance, music, and gender in the arts. Her work, a fusion of tradition and reinvention, is a cultural renaissance, bringing forgotten voices back into the spotlight.

Pankaj Bhadouria

Pankaj Bhadouria is India’s first MasterChef, rising to fame in 2010 by winning the inaugural MasterChef India. Since then, she has become a household name. She has hosted over 15 shows on TV Channels such as Star Plus, Zee TV, ETV, Living Foods, Zee Zest, and BBC. She has authored 6 books, including the official MasterChef Cookbook, Barbie I Am a Chef, Chicken From My Kitchen, Uttar Pradesh, The Secret’s in the Spice Mix, and Miracle Millets. With around 100 brand collaborations, she enjoys a strong social media presence of over 16 million followers. Among her numerous awards, she received the President’s First Ladies Award (2018) and the Outlook Social Media Award (2016) for her media presence as a chef. Her international engagements include speaking at Cambridge University, the Dubai Food Festival, and the Varli Food Festival in New York. Bhadouria is also an educator, having founded the Pankaj Bhadouria Culinary Academy, which has trained over 3500 chefs.

Ashutosh Shukla

Ashutosh Shukla is a seasoned journalist, author, and academic with extensive experience across major newspapers in Lucknow, Kanpur, Delhi, and Varanasi. Holding an M.A. in Medieval and Modern Indian History from Lucknow University, he has also served as a Visiting Professor at Banaras Hindu University’s Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (2020–22). A prolific writer, his notable works include Dekhi Tumhari Kashi, Syahi Ke Ujale, Krishna Calling – Travelogue of a Teenager (also translated into English), and Tumhari Jai. He has also translated key works such as Architecture of Imambaras, Architecture of Lucknow, and the BBC Practical Handbook of Journalism. With a deep engagement in history, culture, and media, he continues to shape contemporary discourse through his writing and academic contributions.

Arun Maheshwari

Arun Maheshwari, Managing Director of Vani Prakashan and Group Chairman of Vani Prakashan Group, has been a key force in Indian publishing for over four decades. He has represented Indian language publishers at the Sahitya Akademi, served on academic boards, and led Bharatiya Jnanpith’s publishing division since 2022. Under his leadership, Vani Prakashan Group has received prestigious accolades, including the Swarna Kamal Samman (2017). Honured by the governments of Poland, Sweden, and Russia, he has also received the Distinguished Publisher Award and the Business Excellence Award from Oxford Business College. In 2015, he founded Vani Foundation, which drives the Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award at Jaipur BookMark.

Jai Prakash Pandey

Jai Prakash Pandey is a journalist, editor and literary critic with a postgraduate degree in Political Science and Hindi Literature, along with a background in Journalism. He has served as the Publishing Editor at Delhi Press Group Magazines and has delivered lectures at various universities while also publishing academic research papers. Currently, he is associated with the India Today Group as the Editor of Sahitya Tak and actively contributes to Sahitya Aaj Tak. With an extensive literary background, he has reviewed over 1,100 books on the ongoing daily show Book Cafe. He is also known for hosting the acclaimed talk shows Baten-Mulaqaten and Shabd-Rathi, where he engages in insightful discussions on literature and culture.

Girish Pati Tripathi

Hailing from the esteemed Guru Vashishtha Parampara Peeth, Shri Sadhguru Bihari Sadan Ji Sarkar in Ayodhya, Girish Pati Tripathi is a renowned Ram Katha scholar who has delivered numerous lectures in India and abroad under the title Hriday Me Ram. He has also published a commentary book on Ram Katha under the same name. Currently, he is serving as the Mayor of Ayodhya, representing the BJP. For his spiritual and cultural contribution, he was awarded the Ramanuj Award and the Guru Gorakhnath Samman.

Manish Saksena

Manish Saksena is a lifestyle specialist with 30 years of experience in design, product management, marketing, store design, and visual merchandising, Manish Saksena has played a key role in launching international brands in India and creating successful homegrown labels. As COO of Tommy Hilfiger India, he led its expansion before moving into e-commerce with LimeRoad.com and Amazon. Now a consultant, he explores brick-and-mortar retail with Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein while leading Aadyam Handwoven, a CSR initiative supporting weavers in Pochampally, Benaras, and Bhuj under the Aditya Birla Group. He is also involved with craft bodies like the Crafts Council of India and Craft Catapult at Startup Oasis, IIMA. An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College and the London School of Fashion, he has worked with Madura Garments, Landmark Group, and played a role in launching the ethnic wear brand W.

Mithilesh Nandini Sharan

Acharya Mithilesh Nandini Sharan is a scholar exploring the integrated journey of scriptures and folk traditions. As an authoritative speaker on the life values at the confluence of spirituality, religion, and culture, he makes these discussions more relevant and practical. His talks, ranging from Indian metaphysics to TED Talks, have made a significant impact. Addressing a generation caught between culture and civilization, Acharyaji is known for his editorial writings in national newspapers and magazines, as well as his meaningful songs and poetry. The key concepts of the Indian knowledge tradition form the core of his ideology.

Pragya Tiwari

Pragya Tiwari has over 20 years of experience in the media, as an editor, journalist and commentator. She has set up and headed up newsrooms and launched international publications such as Vice in India as its first editor-in-chief. She has also written extensively on politics, policy and culture for most major national publications as well as international publications such as the New York Times and Al Jazeera. Currently, she runs Oijo, a content and strategy consultancy based out of New Delhi. She also edits Indian History Collective and hosts The India Briefing Podcast.

Devanshi Seth

A former Times of India journalist, Devanshi Seth headed Lucknow Times, Kanpur Times, Banaras Times, Allahabad Times, and Patna Times. An alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, she also holds postgraduate qualifications in English and media studies. After leaving Lucknow Times, she founded Now Lucknow, an online guide celebrating the city’s evolving culture while promoting tourism and local businesses. In 2020, she was featured in the FLO Compendium of 100 Successful Women Entrepreneurs in MSME, supported by the Government of India.

Vijayarajamallika

Vijayarajamallika is a pioneering transgender poet and writer whose work amplifies the voices of marginalised queer communities. As an intersex writer, her poetry challenges heteronormative norms and advocates for gender justice. Her works, including Deivathinte Makal, Mallikavasantham, A Word to Mother, and Aan Nadhi, are featured in university and school syllabi. Recognised with numerous awards, she is the first transgender poet in Malayalam literature and a trailblazer in the film industry as a lyricist. Through poetry workshops and literary interventions, Vijayarajamallika fosters self-expression among transgender youth, striving for an inclusive and empathetic literary landscape. A Kerala State Award winner and member of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, she has produced ten books and contributed gender-friendly, inclusive words to Malayalam.

Aditi Maheshwari Goyal

Aditi Maheshwari Goyal is the CEO of Vani Prakashan Group and Managing Trustee of Vani Foundation, actively shaping India's literary landscape. She chairs the Iron Lady of the Hills Award jury, serves on the Jaipur BookMark advisory panel, and manages the Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award. A dedicated academic, she has designed and taught Publishing and Editing courses at Delhi University, Seagull School of Publishing, and National Book Trust. Honored with the Chevalier of Arts and Letters by the Government of France, she has also been named among India’s most valuable CEOs by Business World and received Zee Media’s Young Achievers Award. She has represented India in editorial exchange programs worldwide.

Ambber Pandey

Ammber Pandey has published three award-winning Hindi poetry collections. Kolahal ki Kaviataayein, Hemant Smriti Kavita Samman and Kriti Samman. His second collection, Garud aur Anya Shok Geet (2021), a book-length elegy, was written after his brother’s demise and cemented his position as a leading contemporary Hindi poet. His third, Rukmani Haran aur Anya Prem Kavitayein (2023), a collection of love poems, was released on his wedding day. Pandey’s trilogy of novels on Hindu identity in India is published by Vani Prakashan, with the first part, मतलब हिन्दू, releasing in 2025. His biographical fiction on Sharada, wife of Ramkrishna Paramhansa, will be published next year. A polyglot, he navigates Indian and European languages like Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, French and German. His translations include works by Rilke, Celan, Bachmann, Bonnefoy and renowned Indian poets.

Amy Singh

Amy Singh is a poet, writer, and performer from Chandigarh. Her work explores love, resistance, and the intersections of personal and collective history. Her debut poetry collection will be released in April 2025. For over a decade, she has performed at literary festivals, public protests, and storytelling spaces, using language as both refuge and rebellion. Her poem Daak: To Lahore with Love sparked a cross-border letter-writing movement, encouraging people to reach across the India–Pakistan divide through the simple act of writing letters. She has performed at the Bangalore Literature Festival, Chandigarh Literature Festival, Dehradun Literature Festival, and the Faiz Festival in Lahore, among others. Her work has been featured in Vogue, BBC, The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, The Tribune, Quint, and TEDx. She leads writing workshops and speaks on poetry’s role in healing, activism, and identity.

Anjum Sharma

Anjum Sharma is known for the popular Hindi literary video interview series Sangat. One of the most widely followed literary series in Hindi, it features in-depth video interviews with 100 renowned literary figures, all conducted by him. He has previously been associated with BBC Hindi, Aaj Tak Radio, All India Radio, and Doordarshan, where he hosted successful programmes on literature and culture. His poems, reviews, and articles have been published in various magazines and journals, and he has edited and compiled three books. Additionally, he works with literary content in the audio-visual format.

PARAMPARA. SANSKRITI. VIRASAT.

HIGHLIGHTS

ARTISTES LINE UP

SCHEDULE

Day 1 : 21st March

Inauguration

Ayodhya Se Adyatama

Angan Ki Sugandh: Chandan Kiwad

Remembering Begum Akhtar: Hamari Atariya Pe Aao Sanwariya

Legacy of India

Ayodhya ka Antarman: Soul of Ayodhya

Raghuraiya: Awadh ka Sangeet

Day 2 : 22nd March

Taste, Textile & Tales

Bhartiya Kavita: Bhasha Ki Vividhta

Announcement of Vani Prakashan - Mystic Ayodhya Kathetar Samman

Shree Ram Aur Ayodhya

Kavi Aur Geetkar ke Saath: Rubaru Roshani!

Bhakti Pravah

Parampara: Rajasthani Virasat

FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

A Journey into the Soul of Ayodhya

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE

Exclusive Festival Access

Celestial Music Under the Stars

Bespoke Festival Bag

Priority Seating & VIP Lounge

ABOUT US

Festival Co-Director

YATINDRA MISHRA

Festival Co-Director

MINHAL HASAN

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Curated by Yatindra Mishra and Excurators