My latest tryst with the famed Pink City was no less than a dream come true. I finally got invited to the Jaiput Lit-fest!
For someone who started wearing glasses due to excessive reading at a rather tender age, this was like being a kid in the candy store for me. I actually got to interact with a bunch of people whose work I really admire and had one hell of a party at the end of it all.
Though I did spend the penultimate day at the festival as well, it was the final day that was the highlight of my experience. While the stay at Le Meridien Jaipur itself was great, the day started with an interaction with the Indian- American author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. While the event included readings from her book “Before We visit The Goddess”, the discussion encompassed a variety of topics. It was very well conducted by a fellow writer and Media personality Amrita Tripathi who channelled the discussion through a myriad of topics like the experience of being a woman writer, what it was like to live as an emigrant in America and the most popular topic of the day- living with the new POTUS Donald Trump. Incase you don’t recognise this one Chitra’s more famous works are Arranged Marriage, Mistress of Spices & Sister of My Heart two of which are the title and subject of some popular contemporary cinema. Our dear hostess Amrita also has a couple of popular titles to her credit, namely- Broken News & The Sibius Knot.
What really made my day, week, month or even my year was attending the Writer’s Ball. It was a grand affair at the Amer Lawns of the Hotel with some 700 illuminati participating in all the fanfare. The dinner spread represented everything that rajasthani cuisine is famous for and even showcased some hidden gems. It was a pleasure to finally taste authentic Rajathani cuisine.While I got to dance with some celebrity writers, there were also some exciting live music. The entertainers included a unique collection of musicians which lend a unique feel to the event fit for a the culmination of the lit-fest. The performers included- The Kutle Khan Project, Aga Khan All Stars and East meets Middle East .
Can’t wait till this happens again next year!
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