Nepal's Sigdel Set for SAARC-FOSWAL Lifetime Award
Keshab Sigdel will receive the SAARC-FOSWAL Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th SAARC-FOSWAL Literature Festival in New Delhi.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Cultural
The 67th SAARC-FOSWAL Literature Festival takes place at Siri Fort in New Delhi from November 15 to 18, featuring more than 200 writers from six South Asian countries. Keshab Sigdel and Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh are slated to receive the festival's lifetime achievement and literature awards, respectively.
Why it matters
The festival brings together writers from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, offering a regional platform for South Asian literary exchange. Recognition through the SAARC-FOSWAL honors highlights the contributions of established writers across the region.
The festival runs four days with more than 50 sessions covering poetry readings, conversations, fiction readings and paper presentations. The lifetime achievement award carries a purse of IC Rs. 1 lakh, and the festival has featured more than 200 writers from six South Asian countries.
The players
Keshab Sigdel
Keshab Sigdel is a Nepali writer set to receive the SAARC-FOSWAL Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to South Asian literature.
SAARC-FOSWAL
SAARC-FOSWAL is the South Asian literary forum that organizes the annual literature festival and its regional awards.
The details
The inaugural session will feature Dr. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee as chief guest and the presentation of the Sabuddhi Golden Poetry Honour Award for Global Literary Excellence 2026 to Padmashri Ajeet Cour. Last year, Dr. Abhi Subedi and poet Laxmi Mali of Nepal received the lifetime achievement and literature awards.
Timeline
November 15, 2026: 67th SAARC-FOSWAL Literature Festival begins at Siri Fort, New Delhi.
November 18, 2026: The festival concludes at Siri Fort, New Delhi.
2025: Dr. Abhi Subedi and Laxmi Mali received the SAARC-FOSWAL awards.
Cultural Context
The 67th edition continues the annual SAARC-FOSWAL pattern of honoring writers from member nations, following last year's awards to Dr. Abhi Subedi and Laxmi Mali of Nepal. The festival's multi-country format brings writers from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan into a single regional forum.
The festival is held in person at Siri Fort in New Delhi, so attendance depends on being in the city during the four-day run. Sessions include poetry readings, conversations and fiction readings open across more than 50 scheduled slots.
The takeaway
Regional literary festivals like SAARC-FOSWAL give writers from neighboring countries a shared stage and recognition beyond their national borders. Readers interested in South Asian literature can follow the festival's sessions and award winners as the event unfolds.
What happens next
The awards will be formally presented during the festival's inaugural session and sessions running through November 18, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Cultural coverage for context on South Asian literary and arts events.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC Nepal TV.
