Bhutan EchoesDrukyul’s Literature & Arts Festival
Drukyul's Literature & Arts Festival
Mindfulness
Experience the evolution of our festival as we proudly unveil the thirteenth edition, transitioning from "Drukyul's Literature Festival" to "Drukyul's Literature and Arts Festival. The inclusion of “Arts” reflects our deep commitment to embracing a richer fabric of artistic expressions throughout all our festivals.
This year’s DLAF 2024 is inspired by the illuminating 116th National Day Address by His Majesty the King, on the vision for Gelephu Mindfulness City. Our festival embraces the theme of “Mindfulness,” aiming to preserve and usher in an era of evolution and positive change. This theme, rooted in Bhutanese values of compassion, harmony, and self-awareness, serves as a guiding light for the festival's endeavors.
As participants immerse themselves in the vibrant tapestry of DLAF 2024, they are invited to reflect on the timeless wisdom of Bhutan's literary and artistic traditions. Through the lens of mindfulness, we hope they gain new insights into the human experience, discovering pathways to inner peace, collective well-being, and positive transformation.
Strategizing a Writing/Translating Career in Anglophone Publishing by Anton Hur
- Date: Saturday, August 3rd
- Time: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Venue: Thimphu Deluxe
- Age Group: Aspiring writers
Join acclaimed translator and writer Anton Hur for an insightful workshop on building a successful career in Anglophone publishing. This session will provide aspiring writers and translators with practical strategies and insider tips to navigate the competitive landscape of English-language publishing. Participants can ask questions about the industry, developing a compelling portfolio, and receive essential advice on effective networking, promotional tactics, contracts, intellectual property rights and much more. Additionally, the workshop will explore ways to balance creativity with career demands. Ideal for those looking to break into or advance their careers, this workshop offers the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in Anglophone publishing.
The workshop will follow a Q&A format, and participants are requested to prepare their questions beforehand.
The Art of Writing
- Date: Saturday, August 3rd
- Time: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Venue: The Pema
- Age Group: Emerging and aspiring writers
The Art of Writing is an hour-long workshop led by Indian publisher Chirag Thakkar from Bloomsbury India that mentors emerging and aspiring writers on the fundamentals of good fiction and nonfiction writing and how to craft a good story.
It unpacks the following questions:
- What makes for a good book? How to develop plot points and characters? How to build a believable protagonist? What is “point of view” and why is it important?
- How to achieve flow when describing the place, setting, pace, and the ecosystem in which a book takes place?
- What are the fundamentals of narrative nonfiction?
- How to deal with a writer’s block?
- How to edit, approach publishing houses, and put together a solid book proposal?
Writing Memoirs
- Date: Sunday, 4th August
- Time: 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
- Venue: The Pema
- Age Group: 16+
- Requirements: Pen/Pencil and Notebook
Join acclaimed author Will Schwalbe for an enlightening workshop on the art of writing memoir. Drawing from his extensive experience as a bestselling author and editor, Schwalbe will guide participants through the process of transforming personal experiences into compelling narratives.
Building Stories: An Introduction to Comic Book
- Date: Sunday, 4th August
- Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Venue: Royal Textile Academy
- Age Group: 16+
Discover the language of comics through Simon Lamouret’s personal approach of telling stories in interaction with spaces.
Sound Bath for young adults with Fran Bak
- Date: Saturday, August 3rd
- Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Venue: Bodhiste
- Age Group: 18-25
Are you experiencing stress and seeking respite from the constant online engagement? We invite you to join us for a unique opportunity to unwind and delve into the transformative power of sound.
Begin your journey with a brief sound bath featuring drums, conch shells, and gongs, designed to relax your mind and rejuvenate your senses. Following the sound bath, you will have the chance to engage with various instruments, allowing for a deeper exploration into the profound effects of sound on physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Sound Bath for young adults with Fran Bak
- Date: Sunday, August 4th
- Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Venue: Bodhiste
- Age Group: Open to all ages
- Requirement : Yoga mats and blindfolds
Experience a profound journey of deep immersive full-body listening with the soothing resonance of gongs and other small instruments. Allow the waves of sound to envelop you, guiding you into a state of profound rest and relaxation, leaving you feeling energized and deeply rejuvenated.
Join Gong Practitioner Frank Bak as she expertly leads you through this therapeutic session, explaining the origins and benefits of Gong therapy. Whether you’re seeking a mid-morning sound bath or a moment of serene escape, this experience promises to uplift and restore your inner harmony.
BE A MIND-NINJA – WITH MAHARISHI P! Facilitated by Roopa Pai
- Date: Sunday, August 4th
- Time: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Venue: Thimphu Deluxe
- Age Group: 10 – 14
Ever wished that your monkey-mind would stop jumping from thought to thought – and app to app – for one blessed minute so that you could focus on your homework? Ever wished that you had just a little less stress from the behavior of other people around you? So did a very wise Indian sage called Patanjali, 2000 years ago. And guess what? He figured out how it could be done! Listen in as author Roopa Pai unpacks Maharishi P’s secrets on becoming a mind-ninja.
Paper Play by Ruchi Shah
- Date: Sunday, August 4th
- Time: 9:30 AM -10:40 AM
- Venue: Royal Textile Academy
- Age Group: 5 – 8
Join us for an engaging and creative workshop where participants will learn to transform simple materials into beautiful works of art. This hands-on session will guide you through the process of making a paper plate flower and an ink paper beetle.
A Journey Through Time by Johanna Schaible
- Date: Sunday, August 4th
- Time: 10:45 AM -11:50 AM
- Venue: Royal Textile Academy
- Age Group: 6 – 12
Join us for a delightful and imaginative workshop where children will embark on a creative journey through time. This session, led by Johanna Schaible, will be based on her captivating book “A Journey Through Time,” which will introduce young participants to the art of book-making and storytelling.
Make a Bug by Simran Jain
- Date: Sunday, August 4th
- Time: 01:40 PM -2:50 PM
- Venue: Royal Textile Academy
- Age Group: 6 – 11
The activity involves crafting a bug using collaging of different shape paper cutouts. The participants could create all sorts of creatures with varied sizes, either known or fantastical with the pieces of paper and perhaps even a mixture of abstract and geometrical shapes.
Flamenco Dance Workshop by Rebeca and Team
- Date: Sunday, August 4th
- Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Venue: NWCC
- Age Group: All Ages
- Requirement: Comfortable clothes, optional long skirt, and dancing heels (flamenco shoes or similar)
Rebeca and her team invite you to a dynamic dance workshop where participants will learn and rehearse dance movements. In the final 30 minutes, participants will join the guitar workshop for a collaborative rehearsal with live music.
Guitar Workshop by Rebeca and Team
- Date: Sunday, August 4th
- Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Venue: NWCC
- Age Group: All Ages
- Requirement: Guitar, other instruments are welcome for the final half an hour
Rebeca and her team offer a comprehensive guitar workshop for musicians of all ages and skill levels. This two-hour session will provide participants with the opportunity to enhance their guitar playing skills. In the final 30 minutes, participants will join the flamenco dance workshop for a collaborative rehearsal, providing live music for the dancers.
Body and Face Yoga Workshop: A Journey to Balance and Wellness
- Date: Sunday, August 4th
- Time: 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Venue: NWCC
- Age Group: All Ages
- Requirement: Yoga Mats
Join us for a rejuvenating Full Body Yoga Workshop designed to promote overall wellness and harmony. This session is suitable for all levels, from beginners to seasoned practitioners. Our experienced instructor will guide you through a series of poses that stretch, strengthen, and balance your entire body.
As a special finale, we’ll conclude with a 10-minute Face Yoga exercise and massage to alleviate facial tension and enhance skin tone. Come experience the transformative power of yoga and leave feeling refreshed, centered, and energized
