About Koshala Literature Festival

The Koshala Literature Festival stands as one of India's foremost celebrations of art, literature, culture, and heritage, hosted in the golden city of the east, the city of Adab, Lucknow. Produced by Koshala Arts and Crafts Pvt Ltd and Perspective Cultural Foundation, the festival draws its very soul from its name: “Koshala”, a time when Lucknow belonged to the Kosala Mahajanapada, one of the sixteen great kingdoms of ancient India, long before it bore the name we know today. The festival's name carries within it centuries of story, from the Suryavanshi lineage of Kosala, to the legend of Lakshmanpuri, through the refined Nawabi era, the passage of colonial times, to Independence and arriving finally at the Lucknow the world knows and loves today.

With literature, gastronomy, architecture, crafts, textiles, folklore, music and dance woven into its very fabric, Lucknow offers a living cultural backdrop to the celebration. Here, authors, artists and performers from Lucknow and beyond, voices from across states and countries, , come together in meaningful conversations, immersive sessions and soulful evenings that celebrate stories, ideas and the people behind them.

Koshala is envisioned as more than a literature festival; it is where Lucknow’s cultural legacy meets the imagination of New India, creating a space for local talent & art, language & traditions to find their place on the international stage. Beyond panels and readings, it unfolds through craft bazaars, music, poetry, ghazal and Sufi evenings, and cross-cultural exchanges that bring diverse voices together. At its heart, Koshala celebrates coexistence and togetherness, while cultivating a deeper connection with the culture that surrounds us. Above all, it seeks to inspire the next generation to discover, value and carry forward this rich cultural inheritance.