Kolkata is reporting 400,000 visitors over its opening weekend.
The New Delhi World Book Fair is underway, running 1-9 February this year, with Russia as the Guest of Honour.
Its generally recognised as the most important of India’s myriad book fairs, although by footfall it usually lags far behind the Kolkata International Book Fair, which began on 28 January but will also conclude on 9 February.
Kolkata is reporting 400,000 visitors over its opening weekend.
And you can bet your last penny lollipop both fairs will claim to be the biggest in the world (in fact both combined are unlikely to match Cairo).
But they are just the giants among a non-stop roll-out of book fairs and festivals across the subcontinent that began late last year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 98th All India Marathi Literature Convention in New Delhi from February 21 to 23, marking the event’s first stint in the national capital since Maharashtra’s formation in 1960.
The third edition of the Mayiladuthurai Book Fair commenced on January 31 at Dharmapuram Adheenam Arts College, featuring 65 stalls from leading publishing houses and 20 literary and cultural events scheduled throughout the fair.
Adi Dravidar Welfare Department Minister M. Mathiventhan inaugurated a book fair in Coimbatore on the evening of 1 February.
Also on 1 February, the 17th edition of the Tirupati Book Festival kicked off.
And let’s not forget the Porunai Book Fair, which runs 11 days from 31 January.
A safe bet I’ve missed many more.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
