Delhi: Book festival begins this weekend

NEW DELHI: The annual Delhi Book Fair gets bigger, with the 16edition — that starts on Christmas day — attracting as many as 250 publishers from India and abroad. The fair this time is all set to take visitors on a journey on \'books for rural India\' , which is the theme this year. Apart from Hindi and English publications, the fair will showcase regional publications as well. Visitors to the nine-day fair will also get a chance to see a concurrent event, the 12th Stationery Fair 2010, showcasing educational and office stationery and teaching aids.



Speaking about the highlights of the forthcoming fair, chairman and managing director of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), Subas Pani, said that apart from showcasing the publications brought out in the past one year, the fair will offer visitors an opportunity to know about rural India and its literature . \"We will also see works of lesser known regional writers and those from rural areas. The idea is to promote the habit of reading in rural India and an understanding about rural India in urban pockets.\'\'



The fair has been a popular hunting ground for bookworms looking for that elusive foreign publication. However, in this aspect the fair may prove to be a dampener this year as European publishers have decided to skip the event because of the festive season. Moreover, even as just two foreign countries — Pakistan and China — are participating this year.



\"Apart from the European publishers, Iran too is staying away from the 16edition of the fair. There are over 50 Pakistani publishers who are yet to get visa clearance and may not be able to make it in time for the fair. This may be a dampener for the visitors this year. But we will have 35 Chinese participants,\'\' said president of Federation of Indian Publishers Anand Bhushan. The fair is been organised jointly by ITPO and FIP.



Last year, around 2.75 lakh people visited the fair and banking on the holiday season organizers are expecting around 3 lakh visitors this year. And like every year, the fair has come up with a special package for the young. \"We are here to promote the habit of reading. And our audience is the young generation. Apart from various competitions, we have consciously invited participation from publishers who offer children\'s books and educational products,\'\' said Bhushan. In order to attract students the organisers will offer 50% concession on their entry tickets.



The fair will have a host of literary activities like book releases, poetry reading, seminars on books and workshops on literary activities, among others.




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