After 15yrs, book fair shifts to new venue

Guwahati: Every winter presents bibliophiles with an opportunity to immerse themselves in a world filled with countless books and literary discussions in Guwahati. This time, as the state prepares to commemorate 2025 as the "Year of Reading", Assam Book Fair is set to begin on Friday, with participation from 118 publishing groups.Distinguished personalities, including an eminent historian and Sanskrit scholar will take part in the event.After more than 15 years, the Assam Publication Board book fair's venue has temporarily been shifted to Khanapara, situated on the outskirts of the metropolitan centre. This location has been shifted due to the ongoing construction of the approximately 5-km-long GNB flyover, connecting Noonmati with Ambari.The enchanting spectacle of diverse books, substantial attendance and literary discourse during winter evenings beneath halogen illumination, accompanied by tea stalls and fast food kiosks outside the premises, characterised the fair for 15 years at the Assam Engineering Institute playground in Chandmari. The Assam Book Fair, orchestrated by the Assam Publication Board, shall run from Dec 27 to Jan 7 at Khanapara, approximately 10 kilometres from Chandmari. This marks the fourth edition since merging the Guwahati Book Fair and North East Book Fair in 2021. Previously, these fairs were hosted at Judges' Field, before being relocated to Chandmari circa 2008-09.Assam Publication Board secretary Pramod Kalita confirmed the fai's duration until Jan 7 at the Veterinary College Ground in Khanapara, Guwahati. He elaborated that 118 publishing groups and vendors, including 16 from Delhi-Haryana, 15 from Kolkata, and 2 from Punjab, shall participate. However, neighbouring Bangladesh's publishers shall abstain due to ongoing domestic unrest.Kalita expressed optimism regarding cooperation for the Assam Book Fair, announcing the inaugural ceremony for Friday afternoon. "Several distinguished personalities, including Historian-Author Hindol Sengupta and Sanskrit Scholar Baldevanand Sagar, shall participate in various planned sessions," Kalita added.
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