Srinagar’s Chinar Book Festival draws huge crowds, revives love for reading

Srinagar, August 24

For the past week, the Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre, located on the banks of Dal Lake, has been bustling with students. Inside the centre, children are browsing through books or taking selfies to capture memories.

“This is my first visit to a book fair, and it’s a unique experience,” said Faid, a class X student from a Srinagar school. Faid purchased two books, a novel and a non-fiction title, and expressed his desire to see more events like this in the future.

The Chinar Book Festival, which began on August 17, is organised by the Srinagar administration in collaboration with the National Book Trust. Iqra Fayaz, a class XII student, visited the fair with her schoolmates. “I don’t read many books, but seeing students here has inspired me to read more,” she said.

Since its inauguration, the Chinar Book Festival has consistently attracted visitors from diverse backgrounds. Children have been encouraging their parents to accompany them to the fair, sparking a sense of excitement and curiosity.

Saima Rashid, a working professional, took a day off to bring her two sons to the book fair. “They’re avid readers and were thrilled to explore the fair, purchasing dozens of books,” she said.

Uzair Ahmad from North Kashmir visited the fair with his kids, emphasising the importance of introducing children to books beyond their school textbooks. “In today’s digital age, it’s crucial for parents to encourage reading habits in their children,” he said. Ahmad suggested organising similar book fairs, exclusively for children, in other district headquarters to help them avoid excessive mobile phone use.

Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat reported that the fair has drawn over 1 lakh visitors since its inception. “The response has been overwhelming, making it one of Srinagar’s largest festivals,” he said. Bhat explained that the festival aims to expose school children and the general public to various types of books, combining literature with art, culture, music and heritage.

The festival features panel discussions, children’s workshops on storytelling, creative writing, painting, calligraphy, and drawing. Over 1,000 publishers are participating, with 300 stalls, including 80 dedicated to Urdu language books.

Bhat noted that the culture of reading has declined, with most children engaged in digital entertainment. “Through this fair, we aim to revive book reading, especially among kids,” he said.

Prof Milind Marathe, chairman of the National Book Trust, highlighted Kashmir’s historical significance as a centre of knowledge. “The Chinar Book Festival will foster learning, growth and harmony among our younger generation,” he said.