AMRITSAR: The well-acclaimed five-day long annual literature festival of Khalsa College is all set for its opening on Thursday. The 9th festival-cum-book fair which has become one of the prestigious in the region will exhibit lakhs of books on diverse topics and subjects apart from literary talks, seminars, debates, panel discussions and Kavi Darbar, said the College authorities.
Acting Principal Dr. Taminder Singh Bhatia said the festival has become a part of the essential activities of Khalsa College and Punjabi writers, thinkers and artists from across the world eagerly await the event. Punjabi department head Dr. Atam Singh Randhawa said there will be more than 150 book stalls, arriving from all over North India. He said nearly 150 writers, poets, thinkers and artists are participating in the event.
He said every day cultural program will be presented in the evening, in which Giddha, Bhangra, singing and folk dances will be the main attractions. There will be separate food stalls in this fair. On November 19, the festival will be inaugurated by Khalsa University (KU) Pro-Chancellor and KCGC honorary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh along with KU VC Dr. Mahal Singh while President of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Chandigarh Ashwini Chatley will be the special guest in this function.
Renowned comedian and Punjabi film actor Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi will address the audience. At this time Sukhan De Suraj, a poetry recitation dedicated to Surjit Patar will be organized which will be presided over by Swaranjit Singh Swee, Director of Punjab Kala Parishad, Chandigarh. Jaswant Sigh Zafar, Director, Department of Languages, Punjab, Dr. Kuljit Singh Janjua (Canada) and Parminder Sodhi (Japan) will be the special guests.
Punjabi singer Glory Bawa will perform her music. Next day two day seminar on Partition of Punjab will be organized in which keynote address will be by Dr. Sukhdev Singh Sohal, former professor, Department of History, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and Dr. Ravel Singh Secretary General, Punjab Arts Council, Changigarh will be the chief guest.
Renowned Punjabi actor Rana Ranbir will also participate in the program 'Dil Ki Baat: Zindagi Zindabad'. In the afternoon, there will be a performance of the heritage folk instruments of Punjab. Renowned singer Davinder Pandit will present the colors of folk and literary songs. Bhangra by Babas will be performed by the group of Balbir Singh Kohla and his colleagues. World Cancer Care Charitable Society head Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal (UK) will speak in the awareness camp on Cancer.
An Aademic session will have Dr. Ishwar Dayal Gaur, Dr. Ravinder Singh and Dr. Amarjit Singh to present papers on various topics. This session will be chaired by Dr. Sarabjit Singh, President Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, Ludhiana. There will be a two-day Kahani Goshti by Adara Pravchan in the literature and book fair which will be presided over by Dr. Raminder Kaur. Ajay Aulakh and Surinder Sagar will present their singing along with folk singer Harinder Singh Soha. Nawalpreet Rangi's film 'Pauri* will be screened. Renowned actors Anita Devgan and Hardeep Gill will also be present.