JAIPUR, India (AP) — The Dalai Lama is set to headline India's Jaipur Literature Festival to speak about faith with one of his biographers, Pico Iyer.

The Tibetan spiritual leader will hold a session on the festival's first day, Thursday, titled: "Kinships of Faiths: Finding the Middle Way."

Last year's festival featured Oprah Winfrey and literary stars Michael Ondaatje and Tom Stoppard.

Author Salman Rushdie had to cancel his appearance last year due to protests and threats linked to his book "The Satanic Verses," which some Muslims consider blasphemous.

This year's festival will also feature author Zoe Heller and Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson.