• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event to be held online; live streaming of all sessions to be done
• More than 1,000 artists, poets and authors from 50 countries to participate in 72 sessions on Arts, Literature, Science and Culture
• ‘Science & Future’ and ‘Impact of COVID-19 on every aspects of life’ to be focal points of the event
• Vishwarang 2020 to witness the first-of-its-kind ‘Vigyan Kosh’ – a release ceremony – to present a collection of science poems and stories by celebrated present and past poets and authors
• International Film Festival and Children’s Literature, Art & Music Festival to be the two new attractions this year

Bhopal, October 28, 2020: The second edition of Vishwarang, the first-of-its-kind literature and art festival in India that focuses on art and literature in Hindi and regional languages, will be held online from 20^th November to 29^th November. This three-phase mega event is being organized by Bhopal-based Rabindranath Tagore University in collaboration with the Tagore International Centre for Arts & Culture, Bhopal in memory of the legendary Indian poet, writer, composer, philosopher and painter Rabindranath Tagore. Vishwarang 2020 will present a kaleidoscope of art, culture and literature. From deep discussions and deliberations to light mood melodies and folk dances, it will have all the hues.

This year, the event will have more number of sessions and international participation than the last year. There will be more than 72 sessions in which around 1,000 writers and authors from over 50 countries will exchange their thoughts on various topics. In order to increase youth and children participation, two new categories – an International Film Festival and a Children’s Literature, Art and Music Festival – have been added this year.

Speaking about the upcoming event, Mr. Santosh Kumar Choubey, who is the Chancellor of the Rabindranath Tagore University and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Vishwarang 2020, said, “The first phase of the festival – Poorv Rang – has already started from 1^st of October and it will continue till 8^th of November, while the second phase – Vishwarang Country Festival – will be held from 6^th November to 8^th November. Under Poorv Rang, live discussions on Katha Desh, which is an 18-volume compilation of significant pieces of work in Hindi story-writing spanning nearly 200 years, will be held. Moreover, a national painting exhibition, a short film competition, a Nukkad Natak festival and various competitions for university students are being held as part of Poorv Rang.”

Mr Choubey further informed that in the second phase of the festival, the audience will get a glimpse of the arts and cultures of 15 countries. In this three-day event, litterateurs and artists from the US, Canada, the UK, Netherlands, Russia, Uzbekistan, Singapore, Australia, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Trinidad and the UAE will perform. This event will present an opportunity to the audience to know and understand the culture and literature of different countries.

The third and culminating phase of Vishwarang 2020 will be held from 20^th November to 29^th November. The event will begin with programs based on Rabindranath Tagore and his works. Moreover, tributes will be paid to Dhrupad singer Ramakant Gundecha, former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee, theater artist and director Usha Ganguly and Poet Rahat Indori. The following days of the festival will witness a painting exhibition, book releases, deliberations and exhibitions, International Mushaira, Vishwa Kavita Sammelan, Vigyan Kavya Kosh release, discussions on Tagore and Gandhi, meet the author sessions, children’s literature, art & music festival, international film festival, Dastangoi and performances of popular Indian and overseas bands.

Mr Choubey informed that around 50 books and a coffee table book will also be released during the festival. The coffee table book is a collection of glimpses of first edition of Vishwarang. This year, the theme of the painting exhibition would be ‘Women in Indian Art’, for which more than 1,000 paintings have been received. Cash prizes will be awarded to five best paintings.