Taj festival to mark Kipling's birth anniversary

A carnival titled "Gulistan-e-Akbarabad" will be held here on January 1 ahead of the third edition of the Taj Literature Festival which would commemorate "Jungle Book" author Rudyard Kipling's 150th birth anniversary.

The Taj Literature Festival, from February 26-28, is touted to be a major inspiration for budding writers.

"This year we begin the festival celebrations with a carnival titled 'Gulistan-e-Akbarabad' on January 1 to provide a platform to budding poets," Harvijay Bahia, chairman of the organising committee, told IANS.

A Nobel Prize winner, Kipling was a novelist, story teller and a journalist.

The event on Friday is designed to give a boost to literary and cultural heritage of the Braj region. The focus will be on Mirza Ghalib, Mir Taqi Mir and Nazir Akbarabadi, he said.

"The Taj Literature Festival in 2012 proved just the right trigger for literary upsurge in Agra with a number of young talents discovered, groomed and promoted. With the third edition, we hope to generate a keener interest in arts and literature," Bahia said.

Last week, 18-year-old Mahi Goyal's novel "Real Illusion" was launched as part of the Lit Fest.

Mahi's novel vividly paints the travails of a 30-year-old woman who struggles to find meaning and happiness in life. Through Emma, Mahi is able to portray nature in all its glory and provide deep insights into human psychology.

Mahi told IANS: "The Taj Literature Festival and the young writers of Agra gave a boost to my passion for literature and writing."