If it's Jaipur it must be...

...The JLF - the festival that turned the Pink City into a literary Mecca

I have been attending the Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF) on and off for more than a decade. And I have to confess that I had begun to take the wealth of riches it brings to us a little bit for granted. But when the Rajasthan deputy chief minister (and Jaipur Princess) Diya Kumari inaugurated the festival this year and declared that JLF did more for Rajasthan tourism in five days than the state government could do in a year, I realised with a start how right she was. 

Jaipur has, of course, always been on the tourist map. But it took the JLF to turn it into a literary Mecca, which attracts writing stars from across the world. This year you had Peter Frankopan, Mary Beard, Bonnie Garmus among the stellar speakers. And there were a plethora of authors from all across India, who write in such languages as Assamese, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Urdu and so many others. And, of course, there was Shashi Tharoor…

But while books — both in prose and in verse — were the focus of attention, as indeed they should be at a literary festival, the JLF is always about so much more than books. There is the author’s lounge, of course, where you can buttonhole your favorite writer and gush away for as long as you can hold their attention. I have to admit that I have never ever done so, believing as I do that it is never a good idea to meet your heroes in real life — they can only ever be a disappointment! But the one thing that I do enjoy are the musical performances that start and end each day at the festival. Not only does this showcase the superb talent in the state (and indeed the country) it also gives foreign guests a taste of Indian culture that they may never get if they visit this country on their own. 

Then, there are the stalls showcasing the arts and crafts of the region. You have the best of Rajasthani textiles, beautiful designer wear, stunning jewellery, and so much more. Even if you are not one for shopping (and I am most certainly not) it is still fun browsing the wares to get a sense of just how talented the locals artists and craftspeople can be. 

But it’s the evenings when the JLF really begins to work its magic. There are elegant soirées in the most splendid locations, showcasing the best that the city has to offer. You could be sipping cocktails on the rooftop of a boutique hotel with the entire city laid out in front of your eyes. You might be watching folk singers and dancers perform against the wondrous backdrop of the Amer Fort. Or you could sample the lifestyle of the erstwhile Maharajas in the sylvan environs of Rambagh Palace. 

Every experience that the Pink City has to offer is yours for the taking — and how amazing that it should all start from the celebration of books, books and more books! 

As a lover of reading, nothing makes me happier than seeing literature open up the world for those willing to let it into their lives.