Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya to address Auroville Lit fest’s valedictory session on Dec 21

PUDUCHERRY: Union labour and employment minister Mansukh Mandaviya will address the valedictory session of the second edition of Auroville Literary Festival on Dec 21. The festival began on Dec 15.

Auroville Foundation secretary Jayanti S Ravi, who is also the Gujarat additional chief secretary, told reporters in the presence of Puducherry chief secretary Sharat Chauhan that the festival features a unique language-based itinerary and a roster of distinguished speakers, including Union ministers, corporate leaders and cultural icons, who will address the gathering.

The first two days of the festival were dedicated to Sanskrit. The next two days are dedicated to Tamil and French literature and the last three to English literature. Jayanti, during her recent visit to Delhi, had called on Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and invited her for both the literature festival and the upcoming Margazhi Utsavam celebrations (scheduled from Dec 16 to Jan 14). An invitation has also been extended to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.