Three-day Bundelkhand Lit Festival begins in Jhansi

Jhansi: The three-day Bundelkhand Literature Festival began at General Bipin Rawat Shaheed Park in Jhansi on Friday. The fifth edition of the festival opened with Vedic invocations by Vedic Brahman Acharya Anshul Nayak.The festival was inaugurated by Bundelkhand University (BU) vice-chancellor Mukesh Pandey, DU Dean of Colleges Prof Balram Pani, and Director in the Ministry of External Affairs Nitin Pramod.
Acclaimed TV journalist Richa Aniruddh, who was also present, said she used to sit in the back rows at such programmes and wonder how to reach the front seats. She said the desire to always dream big, along with hard work, brought her to the stage. Nitin Pramod encouraged the promotion of local literature. Prof Balram Pani inspired attendees to embrace the diversity of the literature fest and take pride in themselves. Prof Mukesh Pandey requested first-time visitors to Jhansi to taste the city's cuisine and get acquainted with its culture.Event organiser Chandrapratap Yadav said a number of speakers from the literary world, Bollywood, sports, and the govt administration will share their views on various burning topics and interact with the audience, mainly students.He added that a book fair, live sketching, and cultural events are among the major attractions.In the opening session, "Maati Ki Goonj", Vidit Narayan Budhauliya held a conversation with Bundeli folk singer Sakshi Pateriya and Aalha singer Jitendra Chaurasiya. Sakshi spoke about the importance of Bundeli singing and said she is gaining rapid popularity by promoting local culture.Jitendra described the history of Aalha singing, mentioning the wars of Aalha-Udal described in Acharya Jagnik's Parmal Raso. He said he first performed Aalha as a punishment during student life, and it later became his life. He also said an Aalha programme was recently held in Mumbai, where a large number of listeners attended after purchasing tickets.Both guests emphasised connecting Aalha and folk singing with current trends, such as simple language, attire, and instruments, to attract people in this rapidly changing era.