DAWA ZANGMO
Thimphu
The 2025 Drukyul Literature and Arts Festival (DLAF), one of Bhutan’s most significant cultural events, is scheduled to take place from August 2nd to 4th.
Organized by Bhutan Echoes, a prominent India-Bhutan literary and arts initiative, this year’s festival brings a host of new features, speakers, and activities, reinforcing its role as a key platform for creative expression, cultural exchange, and literary appreciation in the region.
The event pays homage to 70th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, and His Holiness the Je Khenpo Trulku Jigme Choeda
Bhutan Echoes: Drukyul’s Literature and Arts Festival has, for over a decade, served as a powerful platform for celebrating literary and artistic talent from within Bhutan and around the world.
Director of the event Kelly Dorji during press meet on 25th July said, “It has successfully cultivated an environment for serious engagement with books, ideas, and the arts, fostering an enduring love for storytelling and creativity. By providing a free and open space for the public, the festival enables rich exchanges of ideas and artistic expression, all within the broader framework of tradition and innovation”.
Among the most exciting developments this year is the introduction of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck (JSW) Prizes. These prestigious awards are set to be conferred for the first time starting next year and are poised to become the most esteemed honors for literature and the arts across Asia.
Named in tribute to His Majesty the Great Fourth, the prizes aim to uphold the values of selfless leadership, wisdom, and national preservation.
There are two categories under the JSW Prizes. The JSW Prize in Literature will recognize either a lifetime of distinguished achievement or an extraordinary body of work by a writer of Asian origin.
The JSW Prize in Arts, meanwhile, will honor outstanding contributions in the visual, performing, or multidisciplinary arts by artists from Asia.
Both categories are designed to reflect and celebrate the depth of talent across the continent while remaining rooted in the values of Bhutanese heritage and spiritual balance.
In addition to the prizes, the festival will also unveil the Bhutan Echoes mobile app, which will officially launch in first week of August.
Tshering Khenden Namda , Program Officer of the event during the press meet said, “This app is designed to extend the festival’s engagement beyond its schedule, allowing users to revisit recorded sessions and offer feedback directly to speakers.”
He added it represents a key step forward in the festival’s goal of cultivating an informed and engaged audience year-round.
The platform will not only allow more Bhutanese people to access the festival’s content remotely, but will also serve as an archive of discussions and presentations that users can return to anytime.
This year’s edition will also mark the launch of ten new literary works, highlighting both Bhutanese and international voices. Among the new titles are The Tale of Two Ravens by Eugene Bay, Country Before Self by Thakur S Powdyel, and Riding into the Sunset by Tshering Wangchuk.
Also featured are Dream Blanket by Simi Nallaseth and Monkey King and Dragon Tales by Tharchen and iBest, The Dragon Economy: An Experiment with Happiness by Professor Sanjeev Mehta, and Walking My Destiny: A Bhutanese Woman’s Story by Phub Zam.
In addition, readers can look forward to Drukpa Kunley: Sacred Tales of a Mad Monk by Needrup Zangpo and Telling Me My Stories by Kunzang Choden, each bringing unique perspectives and storytelling styles.
Three additional books by Dasho Kunzang Wangdi will also be released at the event. These include Growing Up with the Modern Bhutan, The Kingdom of Bhutan: The Democratic Constitutional Monarchy, and Innovations for Successful Societies: Election Commission of Bhutan.
Together, these titles contribute to a deeper understanding of Bhutan’s political and social evolution and reflect on personal and institutional narratives central to the country’s democratic development.
The 2025 festival is expected to host 88 speakers in total, with 36 hailing from Bhutan and 52 from other countries. Participants represent 14 different nationalities, emphasizing the international scope and collaborative spirit of the festival.
The program includes 32 literary sessions, two film screenings, eight interactive workshops, and ten book launches, ensuring a broad and engaging experience for all attendees.
The festival reflects this approach in every aspect, from its selection of speakers and authors to its structure and activities.
Over the years, the Drukyul Literature and Arts Festival has cemented its place as a key event in Bhutan’s cultural calendar. As the festival approaches, excitement is building among artists, readers, and cultural enthusiasts alike.
The introduction of the JSW Prizes and the Bhutan Echoes app signals the festival’s continued growth and its responsiveness to the needs of a changing audience.
Meanwhile, the impressive roster of books and speakers promises thought provoking sessions, creative inspiration, and a celebration of both Bhutanese and Asian excellence.
