Writer Mahasweta Sahu has been selected for the 16th ‘Timepass Booker Puraskar’ for her short story manuscript “Octopusra Atma” this year. This annual award, designated for Odia fiction writers below 45 years of age, will be presented during a literary festival, with the winning manuscript slated for publication as a book. This year’s nominees for the “Timepass Bestseller Puraskar,” which is awarded to the book chosen by readers as their favorite, are Kshirod Parida’s “Nobel Bijayi Kathakarnka Atmakathan” in the feature category, Biyot Projna Tripathy’s “Srestha Galpa” in short-story, Krushna Kumar Mohanty’s “Ruby Roy” in poetry, and Debabrat Das’s “Tha” in fiction.

Saral Kumar Das will be conferred the “Timepass Bahibandhu Samman” for his dedicated efforts in promoting Odia literature and books. The award ceremony will be part of the fourth edition of the ‘Utsahitya’ event on December 24. The event promises to be a literary extravaganza, featuring discussions, a poetry catwalk, musical cocktails, film screenings, writer gossip, poetry and picture duets, book launches, interviews, and Q&A sessions. Esteemed writers will actively participate, adding to the richness of the literary celebration.