I am sure that most book lovers in India must have heard about the Jaipur Literature Festival. It draws many visitors from across the world and has become synonymous with the pink city. Jaipur Lit Fest (JLF) has seen 12 seasons and it has progressed well into London, Adelaide, and New York editions. Closer home, the success of JLF has given rise to the birth of many more literature festivals across Indian cities. While they have not yet risen to the level of JLF, it has promulgated book reading and bringing the like-minded people together.
Read the complete guide on JLF- Your guide to surviving Jaipur Literature Festival
This year like last year I visited JLF for just one day. Even though I wanted to attend a few interesting sessions but I somehow couldn’t miss work during those times. I ended up watching them live on YouTube. I’m happy that the fest organizers have taken a step in the right direction.
During my time at JLF, I caught up with a few fellow bloggers and friends who had flown in from other cities from India and abroad to attend this event. I managed to find time to click some pictures. I prefer to focus on attending sessions and therefore don’t carry a DSLR camera. During this visit, I didn’t find any interesting sessions to attend, so I captured moments & people at the Jaipur Literature Festival!
Many people call JLF as Jaipur Lifestyle Festival because it has ceased to be merely a literary event. The speakers include not just authors but also politicians, actors among others. Food and fashion form a big part of this event. Many people visit this event to enjoy the food, atmosphere, and shopping. There are others who love dressing up fashionably & posting pictures on social media. In a way, Diggi Palace, the venue of the lit fest is a unique place. Where else can you see such a variety of people & attires in one place? Everyone loves to stand out and enjoy the attention. True?
Here are some of the pictures of people at Jaipur Lit Fest.
The boy with a cowboy hat!
The festival cuts across age and attracts both young and old!
A shawl is cool too!
Posing!
Let’s capture some moments!
The mobile phone forms an important part of our lives. It was evident at the fest.
There’s something nice about this picture although technically it’s far from perfect. Nevertheless, I’m sharing it with you as it shows how people connect irrespective of age, nationality, and background.
Just wondering if the food outlets match the color of the coffee cup with your attire?
No, they don’t!
Pondering over the panel discussion!
Let’s get ready for some fashion and style statement!
How not to get overboard with red!
The Pagdi (turban) photographer.
The Kurta with cargo pants
He definitely looks cool and angry (both)! Wearing a beret definitely makes you stand out!
Which way?
Dhoti with Blazer? That’s super-cool!
The Patrakar (journalist) look!
This one is boring…let me check the alternatives!
Phew, the sun is so strong! Let’s put the JLF program schedule to some good use!
Let me check which is the most interesting session to attend.
No Time!”So many authors and speakers to listen, let me rush!”
It’s true that this event has gained a reputation for being more than just books and many book lovers have stopped visiting this festival. The reason cited by them includes irrelevant crowd and lack of seats.
Despite all that, it still continues to attract book lovers in huge numbers from across the world. Here are a few pictures that I clicked during my JLF visit of the people reading books amidst all the action and noise.
Reading a book on the go!
And meanwhile, at the Penguin India booth…
My first love. Books!
Don’t disturb me!
Art also gets a fair share at JLF. This year Abhishek Sharma painted a large canvas with the “Yam Nachiketa” for 5 consecutive days and drew a huge crowd. Here’s a picture that captures him in action on day 2.
Both literati and glitterati form an important part of the Jaipur Literature Festival and are inseparable. I feel one should attend this festival at least once. Here is a complete guide on JLF- Your guide to surviving Jaipur Literature Festival
Also, read related write-up: Attending The Jaipur Literature Festival? Your Quick Guide To Explore Jaipur As You Attend JLF
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I’m a book addict love this post.
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Happy to hear this, Nikky! Do you read books when you travel?
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I read often whilst travelling on my way to destinations. As well as on my way to and back from work. Thank you for your post.
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That’s a great utilization of the time! 🙂
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I have to squeeze it in some way 📖
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Great 🙂
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This looks amazing!
I’d love to go to one one dT, but they all seem to be in term. Time whe. I’m teaching and can’t take a day off!
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I hope you get to attend one day. Are you talking about the JLF London edition, Ritu?
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Yes… And anything literary to be honest!
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I would love to read about JLF, London through your words on your blog. I’m hoping someday you get to visit, Ritu! 🙂
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Here’s hoping!!!
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Great! 🙂
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Beautifully covered and present Arv. What a way to have a virtual tour of the Lit Fest. Keep it coming buddy.
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Its amazing. Since last two years, I am trying to attend, but any how it couldnt been possible. But i will make sure for next year !!!
Thanx for the beautiful pictures…..
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If you love books and conversations, I’m sure you will like it, Sushant. I feel you should experience it once. 🙂
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Yes… I wanted to attend… Till now I have be satisfied by watching it on YouTube. Next year surly i will attend…
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Oh! You got it! Great! 🙂
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Some truly brilliant street photography Arv!
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Thanks, Raghav. It is kind of tough to click pictures with a tightly packed crowd. I feel these are not 100% to my liking but this is the best one can get in such situation. 🙂
Since you are a book lover, have you ever attended JLF? or any other lit fest, Raghav?
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Not really. I think about attending JLF every year, but the crowds scare me. Next year for sure… is what I tell myself every time.
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Haha! I also get overwhelmed with the crowd and that’s one reason why I have limited the number of times I visit, JLF. I have started watching it live streaming. Still, I do think it makes for a great experience, at least once.
How was your Pushkar trip?
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Good, nice friendly bunch from local walking and photo clubs. A little hectic for a weekend, would have liked one extra day.
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It is one of the few places in Rajasthan that has a different vibe. I’m sure you would have loved an extra day. 🙂
Looking forward to your post on the same or pictures at least!
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Nice photographs. You should have captured a few food stalls also. Food is good. Belgian truffle, and chicken tikka roll my favourite. This time could not visit. Next year hopefully!
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Next year, if possible, I will. Thanks. I was looking forward to meet you at JLF. 🙂
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Got caught up.
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🙂
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I love the way you presented the JLF with vim and vigour, how you mingled with the crowds to capture the spirit of this gigantic literature fest. In spite of the emphasis on a secondary aspect, the life style, you made it clear that the main purpose of the festival is to promote reading. Well done, Arv!
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Thanks. Yes, it is a challenge to click pictures in the crowd. I have already written enough about this fest in my previous blogs, so I decided to present a different aspect of this lit fest. Do you love reading books?
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I do a fair amount of reading on my Kindle reader. It is ideal to carry lots of books around on this little device.
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Certainly, Kindle is becoming very popular. 🙂
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So beautifully captured, Arv! I felt like I got to visit this festival thru your photography. What a fabulous festival!
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I’m happy you liked these pictures, Sandhya. Do you love reading? May be cookery book? 🙂
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I do love reading. cookery books are always fascinating but am also part of a book club where we mostly read fiction and discuss the books.
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wow. That’s a good thing to hear. Keep up the good work, Sandhya!
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What a pictorial treat arv, you have made each moment special with your commentary and pics. Thank you for giving a feel of the festival from miles.
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I’m glad you enjoyed these pictures. It is not merely a lit fest and this is what I wanted to share with these pictures.
I guess you are an avid reader too. Are you?
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Reading and writing have always been pals 😊
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Great! Reading is definitely a great way for enlightenment. 🙂
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Interesting clicks! Did you attend any session? Or met any author?
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The ones that I wanted to attend, I couldn’t. Work kept me occupied. I did watch them online. No, I didn’t meet any author. I wanted to catch up with a few friends and bloggers who were in town for the event.
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Amazingly captured. Who all were the speakers ?
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Thanks. You can find the complete list JLF website. This year the most prominent ones were Shashi Tharoor, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Aazmi, and Jeffrey Archer.
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I didn’t know about the JLF much. Looks like it was organized at a great level. I too will watch videos of it.
BTW, very nice candid shots you took. 🙂
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Thanks, Shruti. JLF is incredibly popular. Yes, it is planned and executed very well. You must read my previous posts on JLF, too. I’m sure you will find these videos interesting.
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Loved the pictures and the witty taglines. Even though it might have diversified from its original purpose, surely it would be worth a visit!
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Neel, I wouldn’t say it has diversified from its intended purpose rather it’s an add on or may be inseparable part of this festival. Some of the sessions featuring Shashi Tharoor, Jefferey Archer, Prasoon Joshi, Devdutt Patnaik, etc are completely packed. Despite fashion and food grabbing some attention, discussions and debates take the center-stage. Are you a book-lover?
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I can understand with writers like them to have jam packed sessions. Attended a session by Devdutt Patnaik once when he was invited in our office. I do love reading but I wouldn’t say that I am an ardent book lover and cannot survive without books. My genre of interest keeps shifting and at a time I usually focus on just one type. It just happens that way, not like plan it. Almost always have a book or two lying around that I am reading. I have a problem of short term amnesia with respect to books, movies, and songs. So its not common for someone to talk about something that I think I don’t know only to find out later that I have read/watched/listened to it 😀
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Shifting genre? wow. That means you can converse on many topics! Well, I also tend to forget the names of movies but with the books.
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Loved these photographs from the LitFest! I’m so glad they’ve posted the sessions on YouTube – much as I would love to attend LitFest, the thought of jostling with all that crowd gives me the jitters!
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Well, I also get overwhelmed with the crowd. I’m happy you liked the pictures. 🙂
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Nice one
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Thanks. 🙂
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Welcome💞😊
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🙂
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It has certainly become a huge event. And it seems really strange that it has the spin-offs such as JLF in London – I really wonder in what way it can be Jaipur LF if it is in London.
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I also feel that if the event has to become popular, it should not have any connection with Jaipur in its name. I guess the organizers want to use the branding of JLF, which is famous across the world. I’m sure JLF London can never be a huge event because it doesn’t have its own identity. I guess that is what you also feel.
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Exactly that, Arv.
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🙂
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Now that’s some great Street Photography, Arv! Thanks for sharing! Marcus
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Coming from a street photographer, I consider it a great compliment. Thanks, Marcus! 🙂
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A good account of JLF from a different perspective with brilliant images.
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Thanks. I’m glad you liked it 🙂
I guess you are a book lover too!
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Arv, you definitely have captured so very well the atmosphere of this literacy event in Jaipur, it really seems to be very popular according to your wonderful images. Way back, when I lived in Germany I had a career as a professional bookseller, which inquires an apprenticeship of 3 years. So therefore it makes me so happy when I see people reading and enjoying books.
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wow! Cornelia! It must have been an awesome experience. I never knew your connection with books. Although, reading is on wane because of the amount of time people spend on digital medium, there still are many readers around. The one who reads are ardent readers. Many publication businesses have closed because of the adverse situation of publication industry. Well, times are changing.
Are you a full time photographers, Cornelia?
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Oh, it was wonderful back than, Arv, thank you for your kind reply. You are right about the digital medium, yet when ever I go to a bookstore, I see tons of people hanging out and reading and buying real books, that always makes me very happy to see. And yes, I am a full time photographer, yet I supplement my income with other side jobs. Have a great week, Arv
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Happy to know more about you, Cornelia. I think reading is one of the best investments… the returns are far better. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Beautiful pics from Jaipur Lit Fest.
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Thanks, Rupam. Following your footsteps…. showing everyone, my part of the world! 🙂
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🙏
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