National Tribal Literary Festival 2026 Begins In Delhi: Dates, Venue, And What To Expect

The two-day National Tribal Literary Festival begins on November 12 at India Habitat Centre, bringing together tribal writers, poets, scholars and storytellers to celebrate indigenous languages, folklore, and India's oral literary traditions

Updated on: 12 Nov 2026, 4:44 pm

The Santhal, Kol, Bhil and Paika rebellions reflected growing opposition to colonial taxation, land policies, and administrative control (for representational purposes only) : behrupiaa/Instagram

Delhi is hosting a national celebration of India's indigenous literary heritage as the National Tribal Literary Festival begins on November 12, 2026. Organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the two-day event will bring together tribal writers, poets, researchers, linguists and cultural practitioners from across the country to showcase literary traditions, promote indigenous languages and highlight the importance of preserving oral narratives.

National Tribal Literary Festival 2026: Dates, Venue, And Inaugural Session

The National Tribal Literary Festival will be held on November 12 and 13 at Silver Oak, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The event is part of the nationwide celebrations marking Janjatiya Gaurav Divas 2026, observed on November 15 to commemorate the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

The inaugural session will be attended by Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram and Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey. Other distinguished attendees include Dr Joram Aniya, Member of NITI Aayog; Chamu Krishna Shastri, Chairman of Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti; and Ranjana Chopra, Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Folklore, Oral Traditions, And Indigenous Languages Take Centre Stage

A key focus of the festival will be the relationship between tribal literature, community histories and oral traditions. Several indigenous literary forms have been passed down through generations through songs, folklore, storytelling, myths and collective memory. These traditions also preserve knowledge about nature, ecology, social values and cultural practices.

For Mundas, the natural commons are the basis of livelihood Deposit Photos

Thematic sessions will explore tribal folklore, ritual songs, myths, folktales, riddles, proverbs, seasonal narratives, children's traditions and women's oral traditions. Discussions will also examine oral epics and heroic narratives, particularly their role in preserving community histories and cultural identities.

Dedicated poetry recitals and storytelling sessions will give tribal writers and poets an opportunity to present their work in different indigenous languages. Researchers, linguists and academics will deliberate on the role of oral traditions in multilingual education, literacy and the transmission of traditional knowledge to younger generations.

The festival comes at a time when several tribal languages and their associated literary traditions face challenges relating to documentation, wider dissemination and intergenerational transmission.

Much of India's tribal literary heritage has historically been preserved through oral communication rather than written records. Stories, songs, folklore and traditional narratives carry accounts of community life, relationships with the natural environment, historical events and indigenous knowledge.

The event forms part of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' wider programme for Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada, being observed from November 1 to 15, 2026, culminating in Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on November 15.

FAQs

1. When is the National Tribal Literary Festival 2026 being held?

The National Tribal Literary Festival 2026 is being held on November 12 and 13, 2026, as part of the celebrations leading up to Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on November 15.

2. Where is the National Tribal Literary Festival 2026 taking place?

The festival is being held at Silver Oak, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

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3. Who is organising the National Tribal Literary Festival?

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is organising the festival to promote tribal literature, indigenous languages and India's oral literary traditions.

4. What can visitors expect at the National Tribal Literary Festival 2026?

The festival features discussions on tribal folklore, oral epics, myths, ritual songs, indigenous languages and traditional knowledge. It also includes poetry recitals, storytelling sessions and discussions involving writers, researchers, linguists and academics.

5. How is the National Tribal Literary Festival connected to Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas?

The festival is part of the nationwide celebrations marking Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, observed on November 15 to commemorate the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.