Grand Inauguration of Delhi’s Biggest Three-Day Cultural Festival ‘Delhi Shabdotsav 2026’

Delhi Shabdotsav is a confluence of Indianness, culture and literature, said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta

Shabdotsav reflects India’s Vishwaguru tradition and its living culture, said Shri Harsh Malhotra

Delhi Shabdotsav is a surgical strike on ideological terrorism, said Shri Kapil Mishra

New Delhi, January 2026 : The grand inauguration of the three-day cultural festival ‘Delhi Shabdotsav 2026’, being held from 2 to 4 January at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, India Gate, was marked by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta. The inauguration was jointly conducted by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister of State Shri Harsh Malhotra, Delhi Government’s Minister for Art, Culture, Language and Tourism Shri Kapil Mishra, Art Secretary Shri K. Mahesh, Shri Sunil Ambekar, Shri Rajeev Tuli of Suruchi Publications, and Shri Harshvardhan Tripathi. Thousands of literature lovers, youth, students, scholars and citizens were present on the occasion.

Welcoming the writers, academicians, artists and senior cultural figures, Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta said that this platform clearly shows India engaging in dialogue with its past, present and future simultaneously. From the Vedic age to the digital era, the historic journey undertaken by India finds a living witness in Delhi Shabdotsav. She stated that never before has such a grand and expansive event been organized from any government platform in Delhi.

The Chief Minister said that India has neither bowed down nor grown weary, and it never will. Times may change and eras may pass, but the soul of India is eternal and will remain so. Based on the theme ‘Bharat Abhyudaya’, the festival reflects the spirit of a future-oriented India rooted firmly in its civilizational foundations. She noted that India has faced numerous invasions throughout history, with repeated attacks on its civilization, culture and education, yet its strong roots have enabled it to re-establish itself every time.

She emphasized that balancing modernity with values is the greatest need of the present time. Science may be held in one hand, but culture and values must be held in the other with equal importance. This festival, she said, provides an answer to parents who seek ways to connect their children with culture amid modern lifestyles.

Calling Delhi a living example of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, the Chief Minister highlighted that over the past ten months, the Delhi Government has celebrated Chhath, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dandiya, Kanwar Yatra, Diwali, Durga Puja and various state festivals with the same authenticity and grandeur as their original traditions. For the first time, Diwali was celebrated by lighting 125,000 lamps on Kartavya Path, uniting the entire city through hymns in praise of Lord Ram.

She said that the Shabdotsav will feature the release of 40 books, classical dance performances, bhajans, music, poets’ conferences, open mic sessions and ideological discussions, all of which will strengthen democratic consciousness. Expressing concern, she remarked that when an Indian uses disparaging words about the country abroad, it reflects a disconnect from cultural roots. Referring to The Kerala Story book, she said that had society been more firmly rooted in culture, many lives could have been saved from going astray.

The Chief Minister stated that India is emerging today as an economic, political, strategic and cultural power, and in this journey it is essential to advance heritage alongside development. She made it clear that while this is the first edition of the festival, it will not be the last—it will be organized every year on an even grander scale.

Union Minister of State Shri Harsh Malhotra said that the festival gaining the patronage of RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Shri Sunil Ambekar lends special dignity to the event. He described Chief Minister Rekha Gupta as a leader who addresses every issue of Delhi with sensitivity and proactive governance.

He noted that while Shabdotsav was initially perceived as being limited to books and literature, visiting the venue made it evident that it is a vibrant showcase of India’s ancient and rich cultural heritage. Referring to Nalanda and Takshashila, he said that India had been a Vishwaguru thousands of years ago as well.

He emphasized that education must be accompanied by values—degrees alone are not sufficient. Festivals like Shabdotsav are powerful mediums to connect the youth with India’s culture. He congratulated the Delhi Government, the organizing committee and all participants for this historic initiative.

Delhi Government’s Minister for Art, Culture, Language and Tourism Shri Kapil Mishra said that the presence of RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Shri Sunil Ambekar as the chair of the festival adds immense prestige to the event. He stated that art and culture in Delhi had either been neglected or diverted in anti-national and anti-cultural directions, and it was Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s vision that has reversed this trend.

Shri Mishra highlighted that in the past ten months, the unprecedented celebration of Chhath, the grand Diwali at Kartavya Path, Kanwar Yatra, Teej festival, Navratri celebrations at Delhi University, Garba and Dandiya, and now the country’s largest Shabdotsav are all outcomes of the Chief Minister’s cultural vision. The objective, he said, is to re-establish Delhi not merely as a political capital, but as India’s cultural capital.

He asserted that Shabdotsav is not an ordinary literary festival. Stones, guns and bombs originate in the mind before they appear in the hand. Naxalism, terrorism and ideological violence are rooted in ideas. Delhi Shabdotsav is a surgical strike on this very ideological terrorism.

Shri Mishra informed that the festival features more than 100 speakers, the release of over 40 books, and participation from more than 50 colleges and universities. Nearly 60,000 registrations have already been completed on BookMyShow. Two major poets’ conferences, six major cultural programmes, open mic sessions, youth forums, publication stalls and food stalls together make this event a holistic cultural experience. He added that the festival will be held every year and will grow larger and more impactful with each edition.

During the programme, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with Union Minister Shri Harsh Malhotra, Shri Kapil Mishra, Social Welfare Minister Shri Ravindra Indraj Singh, Shri K. Mahesh, Shri Rajeev Tuli and Shri Harshvardhan Tripathi, visited various publication stalls. Creative stalls including clay art emerged as major attractions. Books published by the Sanskrit and Urdu Academies under the Department of Art, Culture and Language were also showcased.

The participation of thousands of people has firmly established Delhi Shabdotsav 2026 as a historic, ideological and cultural festival.