Raising a toast to democracy in Thimpu

Discussions on democracy, talks on women's issues and the media, and music and graphic arts will mark the fourth edition of Mountain Echoes, a celebration of literature, art and culture in Bhutanese capital Thimpu, the organisers said Friday.

Celebrating Bhutanese and Indian culture, the August 9-11 festival would serve as a platform to share stories and engage in storytelling, viewing and watching plays, listening and reading popular fiction or travel writing.

Mountain Echoes will be inaugurated by Bhutan's queen mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk.

The festival is being hosted by the India-Bhutan Foundation, in association with the non-governmental Siyahi. Each year since the first festival, the organisers have tried to focus on topics of relevance to the two countries -- democracy, women's issues, civil society, digital rights, environment or wildlife.

"This time we have two interesting sections - 'What's Being Said' and 'What's Not Being Said' and it will be looking at the media today. How the scene is changing in the media. Apart from that, there will be discussions on democracy and environment," Mita Kapur, festival coordinator and CEO of Siyahi told IANS.

Among the list of speakers is former diplomat and novelist Pavan Varma, filmmaker Aparna Sen, actor Rahul Bose, and Jerry Pinto of 'Em and the Big Hoom' fame.

Swiss graphic artists Christoph Badoux and Andrea Caprez will be in attendance too, and Buddhist nun and musician Ani Choying will discuss her music.

The festival is the brainchild of programme directors Namita Gokhale -- also a key person in the organisation of the Jaipur Literary Festival -- and Pramod Kumar K.G..

This year, the domestic appliances brand Usha has sponsored the event.

"We have not joined hands for promoting our brand. We feel there is a need to know more about Bhutan and associations like this help to create a helpful, cheerful and wholesome participation,"Siddharth Shriram, board member of Usha Group, also chairman of Mawana Sugar, said.

"Our group, through our initiatives, has always reached out to poor women, taught them sewing and have tried to find avenues to generate income for them. We believe in empowering women and our philosophy matches with the ideology of the festival organisers," he said.