In Rajasthan, the Fifth Jaipur Literature Festival has started today. During the 5-day long event, about 250 writers from India and abroad will discuss literary and social issues in 135 various sessions. The festival begins with a keynote address of eminent writers Purushottam Agarwal and Arvind Krishna Mehrotra on “Bhakti Poetry – The Living Legacy”.

AIR Correspondent reports that Jaipur literature festival is now recognized as an important literary event of Asia-Pacific region. The event started with recitation of Bhakti poems and keynote address by Purushottam Agarwal and Arvind Krishna Mehrotra on Bhakti Poetry-The living legacy. They said that Bhakti tradition was a source of inspiration for writers of almost all Indian languages.

Noted writers, critics, film makers and, translators from India and abroad are participating in literature festival. Today some important sessions on Literature on gender issues, Jail diaries, Latin American literature and role of little magazines would be organized.

In an another session Union Minister Mr Kapil Sibbal will discuss with poet Ashok Vajpeyi on The Truth of Poetry and the Truth of Politics.

Noted writers Girish Karnad, Simon Sebag, Fatima Bhutto, Chetan Bhagat, Ebba Koch, James Shapiro, Asghar Wajahat and Anna Pavord are among the main participants of the event. Special session about Rajasthan is also being organized in the festival.