The Fairway Galle Literary Festival – a booklovers dream retreat
Hello booklovers, enthusiasts and everyone else interested, January is the month for you to tingle and satisfy all your ‘literary’ senses. If you happen to be in Sri Lanka do not miss out the valuable opportunity to visit the Galle Literary Festival, now Fairway Galle Literary Festival that hits the South annually mid-January.
However, for some this is the main destination and purpose of their visit to the tropical island in this time of the year. Since it kick started in 2007, the Galle Literary Festival has become a favourite destination for tourists both local and foreign. You ask why? Let us find out.
It is where local culture comes to life
Sri Lanka’s festivalgoers are more interested in the rich culture the country has to offer them. The Galle Literary Festival has identified this and offers a breath-taking glimpse into the true Lankan art, music and literature by showcasing various events.
This year’s festival kick started mid this week, with a majestic display of Sri Lankan dance and folk culture at Galle Fort’s Law Courts Square. Then the visitors were treated with a cultural show that was presented by the Tri Forces and Sri Lanka Police. The event was a mix of local music and drama.
Any person who has attended the festival will tell you that this is how the event un-fold every single year. So you cannot be disappointed as the island’s rich ethnically diverse music and dance is a true treat for all.
Galle Lit Fest unfolds in one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions
Galle Fort is one of the most visited destinations in the country. Located in the Bay of Galle to the southwest coast of the island it radiates foreign influences that resulted in mixed culture. The ancient walls that are conserved by the government are true essence of colonial invasions.
History states that Galle Fort was first built by the Portuguese in 1588. But later the Dutch rebuilt it, during their invasion, in the 17th century. Most of the buildings that you see at the Galle Fort replicate the old colonial Dutch style.
The salty sea breeze that lulls its way into the Fort leaves an everlasting sense of satisfaction in its visitors making it a major attraction in the island.
The unique literary experience
It goes without saying that attendees of the Galle Lit Festival visit it for the exclusive literary experience it offers. Dozens of sessions offer a quite unique and rare opportunity for booklovers to meet their favourite authors.
These sessions are the soul of the Galle Lit Festival, where authors and writers take readers on a journey to their own worlds that helped to create the literature they had to offer. Authors from across the world will talk of diverse topics that will interest festival-goers of all age groups.
If lucky the readers can walk away with personally signed copies from renowned authors.
For the various fringe events
From cookery workshops to children’s educational programmes, Galle Lit Festival is sprinkled with a number of other events. This year’s schedule included performances by musical personalities and art exhibitions by talented artists both local and foreign.
One of the most exciting of these events was Alison Wearing’s workshop on Music & Movement of Words that kicked off at Galle Heritage Villa by Jetwing in Galle Fort. Here Wearing helped participants to explore lyricism and rhythm of ‘literature through the body’. It promised everyone to be a fun and engaging event, and surely lived up to its word.
Want to learn to make a new dish? Galle Lit Festival will help you to do just that. Each year the festival offers a unique cookery class and this year were on the ‘Secrets of Authentic Chinese Cooking’ by award-winning Fuchsia Dunlop.
Art and art only
Some of the Galle Lit Festival pilgrims are art enthusiasts who visit to experience various art forms. This could be Sri Lankan, Indian or even European, festival-goers attend to meet renowned artists or see some of their favourite work in exhibition.
Then there are exclusive art workshops where people of all age groups are given a lesson and maybe a cherished tip or two by acclaimed artists.
These are just a few of the experiences that re offered to you at this magical literary journey in Galle. The experience you get there cannot be simply put into black and white. As we mentioned in earlier if you happen to be in Sri Lanka in January make sure to drop by at Galle Lit Fest that will take place for nearly a week.
As some of the events are offered for free, most needs a pass or tickets to enter. These tickets can be bought at the venue (if not sold out) or from various other destinations that will be announced on papers and social media sites.
The experience is truly worth each cent you pay for it.
As Galle is a major city in the country, situated about 130km from Colombo, you will find beautiful hotels to stay in while you are there.
For more information about the festival visit Galle Literature Festival’s official site. Click on the link given below.
https://galleliteraryfestival.com/
Jetwing Hotels and Jetwing Travels were proud partners of this event. Some images of the festival and Jetwing are below;
