New Delhi, Jan 2 (UNI) Three-day cultural festival ”Delhi Shabdotsav 2026” began on Friday at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium near India Gate. The festival, being held from January 2 to 4, was inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, Delhi Minister for Art, Culture Kapil Mishra were also present. Several writers, students, scholars, artists and citizens attended the event.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the festival reflects India’s dialogue with its past, present and future at the same time. She said Delhi Shabdotsav represents India’s journey from the Vedic age to the digital era and claimed that such a large literary and cultural event has not been organised earlier by any government platform in Delhi.
She said India has faced many challenges and invasions in history, but its cultural roots have always helped it rise again. Referring to the theme Bharat Abhyudaya, she said the festival reflects a forward-looking India firmly rooted in its civilisation. She stressed that modern development must go hand in hand with culture and values.
Calling Delhi a living example of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, the Chief Minister said the Delhi Government has celebrated festivals like Chhath, Ganesh Chaturthi, Kanwar Yatra, Diwali, Durga Puja and other state festivals over the past ten months with full traditional spirit. She said the large-scale Diwali celebrations at Kartavya Path united the city.
She said the festival will see the release of 40 books, along with classical dance performances, bhajans, music events, poets’ conferences, open mic sessions and discussions. These activities, she added, will help strengthen cultural and democratic awareness. She also said Delhi Shabdotsav will now be organised every year on an even bigger scale.
Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra said the festival has given Delhi a strong cultural platform. He said that although Shabdotsav was initially seen as a literary event, it has emerged as a vibrant display of India’s ancient cultural heritage. Referring to Nalanda and Takshashila, he said India had been a global knowledge centre centuries ago and festivals like this help reconnect youth with those values.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra said Delhi Shabdotsav is not just a literary festival but a cultural movement. He said ideas shape society and that events like Shabdotsav help counter negative ideologies by strengthening cultural roots. He said the aim is to establish Delhi not only as the political capital but also as the cultural capital of India.
He said the festival features more than 100 speakers, over 40 book releases and participation from more than 50 colleges and universities. Around 60,000 registrations have already been recorded. The programme includes poets’ conferences, cultural performances, youth forums, open mic sessions, publication stalls and food stalls.
