Lit Fest celebrates Ayodhya’s spiritual and cultural legacy

Lucknow/Ayodhya: After ceremonial inauguration by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Timeless Ayodhya Literature and Arts Festival 2025 commenced on Friday with insightful sessions on spiritual heritage and cultural legacy of Ayodhya.
The first session, Ayodhya Se Adhyatma, set the tone for the festival, where renowned scholar Acharya Mithileshnandini Sharan engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Jai Prakash Pandey. They explored Ayodhya's spiritual heritage, traditions and the revival of dharma, reinforcing that Ayodhya is not just a city but a living testament to faith and devotion.
The festival witnessed an insightful session, Aangaan ki Sugandh: Chandan Kiwaad, featuring Padma Shri folk singer Malini Awasthi. She spoke about her book Chandan Kiwaad that encourages a reconnection with cultural roots.
In a mesmerising musical discussion with festival co-director Yatindra Mishra, celebrated singer Vidya Shah and Sufi Kathak dancer Manjari Chaturvedi delved into the legacy of Begum Akhtar and her close ties with the royal family of Ayodhya.
Vidya Shah brought attention to the forgotten contributions of courtesans in Indian music, noting that many Bollywood songs originated from their repertoire but never credited them rightfully.
A distinguished panel including journalist Anant Vijay, historian Dr Vikram Sampath, filmmaker Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi and cultural critic Pragya Tiwari came together for a compelling session on Legacy of India, reflecting on the depth and resilience of Bharatiya Parampara.
Following this, Soul of Ayodhya featured mayor Mahant Girish Pati Tripathi, who spoke about the city's evolving yet deeply spiritual identity.
The first day concluded on a melodious note with a captivating performance by Malini Awasthi. Her spellbinding presentation, Raghuraiya: Awadh ka Sangeet, brought to life the rich and diverse folk music of Awadh.