Sri Vijaya Puram | February 20, 2026
The ongoing Book Fair at ITF Ground has emerged as a vibrant hub for bibliophiles, students, educators and literature enthusiasts, drawing visitors from all walks of life. With stalls showcasing an impressive collection of books from renowned publishers across India, the fair is witnessing enthusiastic participation and footfall.
Organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, with the support of the Department of Art & Culture, A&N Administration, the fair features 31 publishers from mainland India. A wide variety of books spanning multiple genres, authors and languages are on display, offering readers a rich and diverse literary experience.
The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, visited the Book Fair on Thursday and explored the various stalls. He took keen interest in the diverse collection of books exhibited by participating publishers. The Secretary (Art & Culture), Ms. Jyoti Kumari, IAS, was also present during the visit.
A major attraction of the fair is the Children’s Corner, which continues to engage young minds through interactive and creative sessions. On Day 6 of the Children’s Corner activities, organised by NBT India, over 200 children from various schools across the city participated enthusiastically in a series of fun-filled learning sessions.
The day began with a lively Story Craft Workshop conducted by Alma and Gaurav. Children created four different animal characters using colourful origami papers. The session culminated in a collaborative storytelling activity where the origami characters were woven into a delightful story, accompanied by fun jingles that the children sang along to, making the experience both immersive and joyful.
The second session, titled “Let’s Design a Book Cover,” encouraged imagination and originality. Participants were shown three children’s books published by NBT India, with their original covers concealed. The children then designed their own covers for a book of their choice, reinterpreting stories through their unique artistic perspectives.
In the third session, “Let’s Design a Mascot,” children were invited to create a mascot for the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya app. The excitement peaked when the children met and danced with the app’s original mascot, Cheetah, filling the venue with energy and laughter. The special Activity Zone also remained abuzz throughout the day, with children creating doodles and freely expressing their creativity through colours and shapes.
In addition to the morning sessions for children, the Department of Art & Culture has been organising evening cultural programmes featuring classical, semi-classical and folk dances and songs. Cultural organisations including MJ Music Academy, Vikas Dance Academy and Event Musical Groups presented performances that were well received by the audience at ITF Ground.
Among the upcoming highlights, ventriloquism by Ms. Shibani Ghosh will be presented at 5.45 pm on February 19. The much-awaited ‘Kavya Sandhya’, an evening dedicated to poetry, will be held at 6.15 pm on February 21 at the same venue. A total of 12 noted and emerging poets from the Islands will recite their compositions during the programme, promising a memorable literary evening for poetry lovers.
