16 September - 15 October 2026 | Personal Journal 38
I welcomed readers to the 38th edition of my journal, which documented my activities, reflections and literary engagements during the period. As in previous editions, the journal remained dedicated to showcasing and promoting Nepali literature and writers based in Australia. This initiative reflected my vision of fostering a vibrant, connected and collaborative literary community.
This month featured two wonderful literary celebrations. The first took place in Canberra, where Ghazal Mushaira 2026 was held alongside the launch of Shajik, a ghazal collection by Jitendra Malla. The second took place in Sydney, where Saurav’s first English-language children’s picture book published in Australia, How Our Garden Grows, was launched. This edition captured some highlights of these memorable occasions.
Ghazal Mushaira 2026 – Saturday, 19 September 2026
The wonderful evening of ghazal poetry and music, Ghazal Mushaira 2026, was organised by Mushaira Pariwar in Gungahlin, Canberra.
Around 24 ghazal writers from different cities across Australia presented their ghazals. The participating poets included Jitendra Malla, Maheshwar Sharma, Binayak Adhikari, Ramesh Adhikari, Rahul Aryal, Komal Khatiwada, Kamal Shishir, and Tulsa Pandey, Roshan Regmi and Subas Lamichhane added to the evening with their beautiful singing.
The event also featured the launch of Shajik, the first ghazal collection by renowned ghazal writer Jitendra Malla. Published by Saramsa Publication, the collection explored themes of love, relationships, life philosophy, migration, homeland, and human emotions.
My sincere thanks to Program Coordinator Narayan Baral and MC Kashi Bhusal for organising and conducting such a memorable literary evening. And, congratulation to Jitendra Malla on the publication of Shajik and extended his best wishes to the entire Mushaira Pariwar team.
How Our Garden Grows Book Launch – Thursday, 8 October 2026
The launch of Saurav Kiran Shrestha’s children's picture book, How Our Garden Grows, took place in Blacktown on Thursday evening. More than 75 guests, community leaders, writers, and supporters gathered to celebrate the achievement with Saurav and illustrator Estee Sarsfield.
SydWest hosted the event, and WestWords published the book. Clement Meru, Head of Settlement and Multicultural Services at SydWest, served as the MC. He welcomed the guests and highlighted the significance of the book's themes of belonging, growth, and community.
Elfa Moraitakis, CEO of SydWest, officially welcomed the attendees and
congratulated Saurav and Estee on their achievement. In her address, she acknowledged Saurav’s extensive literary background as a storyteller, poet, editor, and mentor. She also recognised his contribution to promoting Nepali-language literature in Australia.
A panel discussion followed, facilitated by Michael Campbell, Executive and Publishing Director of WestWords. The discussion explored the journey of creating the book, the collaboration between the author and illustrator, and the publishing process behind children's picture books.
Saurav shared insights into his personal journey from Nepal to Australia and explained the inspiration behind the story. Estee discussed her artistic process and the relationship between words and illustrations.
Following the discussion, Saurav read How Our Garden Grows, a picture book suitable for children aged four and above. The story showed how one small act of care could bring people together, regardless of their backgrounds, and how neighbours could grow into a connected community. The audience enjoyed the story alongside the book's illustrations, which appeared on the screen during the reading.
Margaret Redrup-May, Coordinator of Outreach Programs at Blacktown Library Services, officially launched the book.
The evening concluded with networking and a book-signing session. Guests had the opportunity to meet Saurav and Estee and purchase signed copies of the book.
During the event, Elfa highlighted the importance of diverse voices in Australian literature. She noted that the book demonstrated how stories could promote inclusion, belonging, and understanding among young readers and across communities.
The event was more than a celebration of literary achievement. It also served as a reminder of the power of storytelling to bring people together and inspire future generations.
How Our Garden Grows: Post-Launch Celebrations – 13–15 October 2026
Following the launch of How Our Garden Grows, I received an overwhelming amount of love, encouragement, and motivation from friends and colleagues. They warmly welcomed the latest picture book and shared their kind words and support.
My heartfelt thanks went to Laura Hawkins, Priti Shrestha, Deg Acharya, Amita Jhothi, Helen Yacoub, Abulla Agwa, Daniel Apat, Dora Onesemo, Shrijana Sangroula, Ram Koirala, and Raju ji for their wonderful support.
I sincerely thanked everyone for being part of this beautiful creative journey. Your support made this milestone even more meaningful and encouraged me to continue sharing stories that celebrated care, connection, and belonging.
On 19 September, we celebrated Ghazal Mushaira 2026 in Canberra, where around 24 poets shared their beautiful ghazals. The evening also marked the launch of Shajik, the first ghazal collection by Jitendra Malla, published by Saramsa Publication.
On 8 October, the celebration became especially personal as I marked a significant milestone with the launch of my first English-language children’s picture book published in Australia, How Our Garden Grows, beautifully illustrated by Estee Sarsfield. The event brought together more than 75 guests, including community leaders, writers, and supporters. Sharing my story and celebrating this achievement with the audience made the occasion truly memorable.
