New Delhi, May 9: The two-day national prelude to the Shillong Literary Festival 2026 concluded at Bikaner House on Saturday, bringing together eminent writers, filmmakers, journalists, sportspersons and cultural voices for wide-ranging conversations on literature, ecology, food, identity and the future of the Northeast.
Organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, the event served as a curtain-raiser to the sixth edition of the festival scheduled to be held at Wards Lake from November 12 to 14.
The second day began with the launch of Shillong: Glimpses of a City Through the Eyes of an Amateur Photographer by Bikika Laloo Tariang by Meghalaya Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed.
A key session titled Bridge of Dreams: Aspirations and Opportunities for Tomorrow featured former Indian footballer Eugeneson Lyngdoh and entrepreneur Mayukh Hazarika, who discussed how Meghalaya’s local strengths in sports, tourism and culinary heritage can create global opportunities. Lyngdoh highlighted the importance of sports infrastructure, including the upcoming Mawkhanu Football Stadium, in nurturing long-term athletic talent.
Another major discussion, Shillong On A Plate, explored the Northeast’s evolving food culture with speakers including Priyadarshini Raje Scindia, Hoihnu Hauzel and Hammarsing Kharhmar. The panel focused on indigenous ingredients, Khasi cuisine and the region’s strong farm-to-table traditions.
Emerging writers Subi Taba, Daribha Lyndem and Jim Kasom spoke during the session Words and Worlds From The Northeast, which examined storytelling, geography, identity and the need to move beyond stereotypes associated with the region.
Environmental themes took centre stage during Ecology and Identity, where veteran journalist Patricia Mukhim, conservationist Neha Sinha and Sankirang Khongwir discussed the links between oral traditions, biodiversity conservation and indigenous ecological knowledge.
The festival also featured a high-profile session titled Once Upon A Time At A Literature Festival with noted literary figures Namita Gokhale, Shobhaa De and Sanjoy Hazarika, who reflected on the role of literary festivals in shaping public discourse and amplifying diverse voices from the grassroots.
The concluding session, Penning A New Future, focused on the legacy and future of Khasi and Garo literature, with D. Bandarilin Bairo and Barbara Sangma highlighting the continued relevance of oral traditions, folk narratives and indigenous storytelling.
The festival’s opening day had featured a conversation between Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and veteran journalist Shekhar Gupta, alongside sessions with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Suparna Sharma, filmmakers Pradip Kurbah and Dominic Sangma, and actor Naseeruddin Shah.
The event concluded with performances under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme, reinforcing the state’s push to position Meghalaya as a growing hub for literature, arts and cultural tourism.
