Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 10: A veritable feast awaits booklovers in the city at Exhibition Ground, venue of the 31st Bhubaneswar Book Fair that kicked off Tuesday.
Hundreds of booklovers are making a beeline to the fair, which comprises around 230 stalls this year selling a wide range of books for every age.
Publishers from across the country are participating in the fair this year.
Prominent writers and poets such as Pt Antaryami Mishra, Satakodi Hota, and Debasis Panigrahi attended the event and participated in a book release ceremony.
Books by Pratibha Satpathy, Debasis Panigrahi and K Narayan Padhi were released on the inaugural day, along with a few books by budding Oriya writers.
“The book fair ever since its inception has been playing a crucial role in promoting and popularising Oriya literature. Local bookstores often do not have books of Oriya writers, and this fair is where discerning bibliophiles in the city come every year to buy books of their favourite Oriya writers. The fair also offers a wide range of Oriya books in genres such as poetry, fiction and short stories,” said famous Oriya poet Ramakant Rath in a speech.
Rath went on to request the state government to help publishers open their branches in rural areas in order to enable people in remote areas easier access to Oriya literature. “Publishers will keep printing copies only if there is a demand for books. If there is no window for selling the books, the publishers will be forced to stop printing, which will be a major problem for writers,” Rath said.
Some prominent publishers from across the country have put up their stalls selling books of all genres from across the world, and are offering attractive
discounts.