Nashik 2026
A Cultural Beginning for Nashik
Anchored in the philosophy Read. Speak. Transform., UGAM blends the depth of a literary gathering with the energy and openness of a cultural carnival.
About
UGAM is the Nashik Literature & Cultural Festival, a multi-arts celebration that brings together literature, cinema, theatre, visual arts, conversations, performances, and community expression under one shared cultural experience.
Launched in 2026, UGAM marks a significant cultural milestone for the city. Designed to be intellectually rich yet accessible, the festival welcomes everyone, from young children discovering their first stories to families, students, creators, educators, professionals, and seasoned culture lovers.
Anchored in the philosophy Read. Speak. Transform., UGAM blends the depth of a literary gathering with the energy and openness of a cultural carnival.
Celebrate Culture & Creativity
To promote literature, cinema, theatre, arts, and creative expression through immersive and engaging experiences.
Amplify Youth & Community Voices
To create a dynamic environment where families, young learners, educators, NGOs, creative communities, and professionals converge to share ideas and perspectives.
Foster Social Awareness
To foreground rural narratives, environmental themes, farmer stories, and community wellbeing, using culture as a tool for awareness and dialogue.
Our Mission
At its core, UGAM believes that culture is not something to be consumed quietly; it is something to be shared, questioned, and lived.
-
Read: because reading deepens understanding and imagination
-
Speak: because dialogue asserts dignity, voice, and participation
-
Transform: because meaningful change begins with expression
UGAM recognises that literature and art are born not only from books and stages, but also from lived experience. Stories emerge from farms and forests, towns and cities, classrooms and communities, and all deserve equal space.
.jpeg)
An Inclusive Cultural Platform
Conceived as an equal and inclusive platform, UGAM brings together rural, tribal, and mainstream literary and artistic voices without hierarchy or distinction.
Farmers, writers, poets, artists, journalists, filmmakers, performers, students, and thinkers share the same cultural space; creating conversations that reflect the realities of our times. Social themes such as agrarian life, climate change, livelihoods, identity, justice, and community wellbeing are integral to the festival’s programming.
Dedicated open platforms allow community members to speak in their own voices and languages, ensuring that culture remains democratic, participatory, and rooted in empathy.
The People Behind UGAM
UGAM is initiated by Diganta Swaraj Foundation, a community-driven development organisation rooted in rural and tribal Maharashtra.
The Foundation works across education, livelihoods, health, environmental sustainability, and social equity. Guided by the belief that true progress is both material and cultural, Diganta Swaraj Foundation seeks to build societies that think deeply, express freely, and act with empathy.
UGAM is the Foundation’s cultural initiative; bringing grassroots perspectives into the heart of the city, bridging rural–urban narratives, and creating a shared cultural commons where creativity and social consciousness coexist.