New Delhi, 29th July 2025: The fifth edition of Hindwi Utsav, hosted by hindwi.org, an initiative of the Rekhta Foundation, concluded with overwhelming participation and applause on Sunday, 27 July at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi. Over the course of a single day, the festival brought together a wide range of voices from Hindi literature, music, and theatre, drawing packed audiences and spirited conversations.
The event opened with an insightful address by Shri Krishna Kumar, who offered a thoughtful reflection on the place of Hindi and its sibling languages in the national imagination. Poet and cultural critic Ashok Vajpeyi followed, setting the tone for a day that was equal parts nostalgic and forward-looking.
This year’s edition stood out not just for its scale, but for the diversity of formats and voices on display. From panel discussions on the future of Hindi literature in digital spaces to spoken-word performances and music-poetry crossovers, the event brought together seasoned authors, young poets, performing artists, and culture critics. Notable speakers included Mridula Garg, Smita Prakash, Atul Chaurasia, Shraddha Sharma, and others, who engaged in wide-ranging conversations on writing, readership, and identity in a fast-changing cultural landscape.
One of the highlights of the evening was a deeply personal and poetic performance by Swanand Kirkire, who blended verse and melody in a way that captivated the hall. Another standout moment came from folk-fusion artist Rahgir, whose contemporary take on traditional music had the crowd singing along.
The festival also featured enthusiastic performances by young participants of the Hindwi All India Campus Poetry Competition, celebrating new literary voices and the role of Hindi in shaping youth identity.
Speaking at the close of the event, Sanjiv Saraf, Founder, Rekhta Foundation, said “Hindwi Utsav has gradually become a festival that belongs to its audience. The warmth, energy, and love for Hindi that we witnessed this year reaffirm our belief in its living legacy.”
As the festival marked its fifth year, it reaffirmed its place not just as a literary gathering, but as a space where Hindi continues to grow, connect, and evolve, with both its heritage and its future in view.
