Coimbatore - The Verandah Club is delighted to announce the 4th edition of the Western Ghats Lit Fest, to be held on November 1 and 2, 2025, in Coimbatore. With each edition, the festival has grown in national stature, ambition, reach and intellectual vitality - the 2024 edition drew over 1,200 participants, hosted 26 speakers (including from Singapore and Malaysia), and launched 16 new titles.

Theme & Vision

Curated by Shefali Vaidya, Director of The Verandah Club, the theme for this year's fest is Bharat Fast Forward: Preserving Purusharthas, having dedicated sessions for Operation Sindhoor (protection of Dharma), panel discussion on Artha, Economics, Viksit Bharat, Nyaya, culture, Heritage and Spiritualism.

The 2025 festival aims to deepen conversations around India's civilisational roots and bridge contemporary cultural challenges, and the role of literature in shaping national identity. Expect a content rich event with meticulous organizational skills of Team Verandah which has proved itself over the years.

This edition also aspires to bring fresh voices from across India and the global Bharatiya diaspora.

Schedule & Highlights

• Dates: November 1 & 2, 2025, 8.45 AM to 6.30 PM both days, lunch and refreshments provided.
• Venue: Coimbatore (Sarva Ball Room, The Grand Regent, on Avinashi Road).
• Registration: Free (Advance registration required, link https://forms.gle/mN5bDp2zUpfmZN6HA) - already live via social media posts and QR code on event Poster.
• Speakers: A curated list of over 30 thought-leaders- authors, decorated veterans, scholars, cultural commentators from all over Bharat and abroad (poster has all the details).
• Special Sessions: Focus streams on regional topics, environmental writing (especially ancient Western Ghats trade routes), youth writing, and revived Indian knowledge traditions.
• Book Pavilion: An evolving selection of contemporary and classical works, plus author signing at Subbu books stall.

Why Attend?

• Intellectual Engagement: Engage with speakers on pressing cultural, historical and literary questions during Q&A sessions and author signing activity
• Network & Discovery: Meet, speakers, publishers, authors, translators, and fellow readers
• Platform for New Writers: Submit proposals for panel slots or reading sessions, especially in regional languages for future programs
• Cultural Immersion: Experience performances rooted in Bharatiya traditions

What you can do if you are a lit / culture enthusiast

• Attend the fest.
• Spread the Word: Share on social media, invite friends, local colleges, literary groups #WesternGhatsLitFest.
• Volunteer / Intern: Opportunities will be made available in logistics, outreach, media coordination for participants willing to volunteer. Interested volunteers can mail to [email protected]
• Be a Sponsor / Donor: Interested donors can contribute directly to The Verandah Club, Account Name - Verandah Club Pvt Ltd, A/C No. 1006 0256 118, IFSC Code IDFB0080531, IDFC Bank, RS Puram Branch, Coimbatore.

Verandah Club expresses deepest gratitude to all patrons, mentors, sponsors, institutions for standing by the efforts and making the Western Ghats Lit Fest a calendar event to look forward to every year.