Dehradun set for Valley of Words 2025

The Doon Valley is gearing up for the 9th edition of the Valley of Words (VoW) Art and Literature Festival, to be held on October 25-26, 2025, at Hotel Madhuban. Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (Retd) will inaugurate the event, which will bring together writers, thinkers, artists, and readers from across India.

Highlights of Day 1 – Saturday, October 25

Day 1 opens with a tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur and a workshop on Indian Sign Language, followed by book sessions including Swallowing the Sun by Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri and Bidaai De Ma! by Sudhir Vidyarthi.
Cultural performances by Kathak exponent Dhanashree Joglekar and Bharatanatyam artist Lakshman Vinayak will add classical flavour. Poetry and youth sessions like Kaho Kavita, Poetry Café, and Yuva Vaani: Visions of Uttarakhand @2047 promise lively interaction. The day concludes with Evening Ragas and reflections on climate, food, and military history.

Highlights of Day 2 – Sunday, October 26

The final day begins with Morning Ragas and a keynote by Shekhar Pathak on “Uttarakhand @ 25.” Sessions include Cactus Wants a Hug by Neil Flory, Suno Kabir by Soni Pandey, and Ananda: An Exploration of Cannabis in India by Karan Madhok.
Other topics cover Garhwali cinema, women building the nation, biodiversity, Mahabharat in Devbhoomi, and Uttarakhand’s Rajyabhasha - Sanskrit. The festival closes with The Last Beggar and Why Stories Matter.

A Celebration Beyond Words

VoW 2025 will also feature art exhibitions, local crafts, workshops, and the prestigious VoW Book Awards, honouring excellence in English, Hindi, translation, and children’s literature. With its focus on sustainability, youth, and inclusivity, the festival reflects Uttarakhand’s harmony between nature, art, and intellect.