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Dimapur, May 19 (MExN): The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) Literature Festival 2026 concluded with a grand valedictory and certificate distribution ceremony on May 18 following a three-day literary and cultural celebration held from May 15 to 17.
According to a press release issued by Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the festival was organised by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in collaboration with the creative collective Poets of Community.
The festival aimed to bring together the industrial heritage of the UNESCO World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway with the oral and literary traditions of the Himalayan region. Through literature, music, storytelling and community interaction, the programme highlighted the artistic and cultural heritage of the region.
Events were held across Kurseong and Darjeeling with participation from writers, artists, students and literature enthusiasts.
The opening day at Victoria Boys’ School, Kurseong featured a workshop titled “Why Poetry Is Boring?” conducted by author and IIT Roorkee alumna Megha Mittal, encouraging students to explore poetry as a contemporary and expressive art form.
On the second day, participants attended “Rail & Rhythm: The Open-Deck Experience,” which combined a steam locomotive journey aboard the heritage Toy Train with live musical performances by regional artists. The programme was followed by a folklore and storytelling session at Café De Central, Kurseong.
The concluding day at Café House, Darjeeling featured multilingual literary performances in Nepali, English and Hindi, where writers and artists reflected on cultural heritage, identity and contemporary issues of the Himalayan region through poetry, storytelling and spoken-word presentations.
As part of the closing ceremony, certificates of appreciation and participation were presented to children, students, performers and community members who contributed to the workshops, storytelling sessions and cultural performances.
