Four Days of Words, Music, Culture & Culinary Heritage
27th – 30th November 2025
What: Koshala Literature Festival 2025 brings back one of North India’s most vibrant cultural gatherings to Lucknow. This four-day celebration unites acclaimed authors, poets, performers, thinkers, chefs, and global voices, all honouring Lucknow’s newly earned status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
The festival blends literature, arts, music, and food, creating a rich showcase of the city’s tehzeeb and cultural brilliance.
When: 27th – 30th November 2025
Timings: 10 AM – 10 PM (Daily)
Where: UP Darshan Park, Lucknow
Tickets: Free & Ticketed Sessions (as per schedule)
Expected Attendance: 12,000+ visitors over 4 days
Highlights:
Literary Sessions & Conversations -Panels on mythology, women’s narratives, cultural memory, digital imagination, resilience, and storytelling with leading voices including: Ghazala Wahab, Manjari Chaturvedi, Anuja Chandramouli, Alka Pande, Koral Dasgupta, Neha Dixit, Jyotsna Mohan, Mehak Jamal, Jayant Krishna, Muzaffar Ali, Kaveree Bamzai, Akshat Gupta, Rajit Kapoor, and many others.
International Guests
- Monia Aljalis – French poet
- Guillermo Rodríguez Martín – Spanish scholar
- Monica de la Fuente – Spain–India performing arts collaborator
Sahir Ludhianvi Award for Poetry (National Launch) – A prestigious new award celebrating poetic brilliance. Jury: Ajay Jain, Waseem Barelvi, Rishi Sethi. Categories: Male & Female.
Evening Music & Cultural Performances
- Hemant Kumar Tribute (Ritesh Ranjan Sahai, Ajai Jain, Sagnik Sen & Anubha Sen)
- Sujoy Ghosh’s One-Man Orchestra
- Shaam-e-Sufiyana with Vidya Shah & Monica de la Fuente
- Grand Mushaira with celebrated poets
- Finale: Chugge Khan’s Qawwali from the Sand Dunes
Daawat-e-Sukhan: Curated Gastronomy Nights – A trilogy of poetic dinners honouring Lucknow’s UNESCO Gastronomy title:
- 27 Nov – Mez & Mehfil, Celestial Manor
- 29 Nov – Jashn-e-Mahal, Khajurgaon Palace
- 30 Nov – The Last Nazm, Rani Bagh, Clarks Awadh
Koshala Talent Hunt, Festival Market & Koshala Haat- Showcasing emerging writers, crafts, books, artworks, and authentic Awadhi Street flavours.
To learn more, visit: www.koshalaliteraturefestival.com