Travel and Experience
A Book Lover’s guide to the World’s second largest Bookfair
An article about the great Kolkata Bookfair and why you should experience it at least once in your life
Do you see the number of heads in front of me? That’s just a glimpse of the actual picture inside the Kolkata Bookfair 2023.
The city of Joy, Kolkata, in West Bengal, India, hosts the country’s largest and the world’s second-largest Bookfair in terms of dimension and footfalls.
It started in the year 1976 and has been increasing in volume ever since.
Millions of people visit this fair in winter, which spans almost two weeks. In 2023, it is hosting more than 700 Book stalls and 200 little magazine stalls.
I visited the fair on 5th February, which will continue till 12th February 2023.
The following blog illustrates 3 key factors, why you should visit the Kolkata Bookfair, at least once in your life.
No, these are not generic facts about stall numbers or the food and infrastructure.
It is a journal about my personal experience and thoughts about the fair that I want to share with you all. Hope it connects with you!!
1. Grand Celebration of Knowledge
We all stood in queues at some point in our life.
Either for grocery shopping in the supermarket, buying movie tickets or some other reason.
Ever stood in a queue for books? This is a reality at the Kolkata Bookfair!
People stand in queues to buy books from their favourite publications.
The picture is taken in front of Mitra and Ghosh’s publication where I and my mom were standing behind a huge queue.
It took us 15 minutes to enter the outlet and start buying.
Some stalls had a waiting time of almost 1 hour and people did not even complain.
In a digital age full of minds that get diverted in seconds, it’s nice to see the kind of love, people have for books.
Even if you are not a book lover, just come to enjoy this spectacular event.
2. Unity in diversity
Only in Kolkata, you will see a Bengali guy playing a middle eastern instrument inside a Spanish-themed Bookfair.
The 2023 Bookfair theme focuses on Spain.
It was inaugurated by delegates from the Spanish ministry of culture and sports and the Spanish Embassy along with other delegates from all over Indian on 30th January 2023.
20 countries from all over the world are participating in this massive Book festival.
Every year, the fair is dedicated to a specific country. People from all around the globe flock to be a part of this event.
Reportedly, the Kolkata Bookfair has the second-highest number of footfalls after the Frankfurt Bookfair in Germany.
Not only Indian people, but you will also see people from various cultures, races, and ethnicities buying books or just casually wandering around.
The grand celebration of Knowledge also brings with it a sense of unity among the people who visit this place.
It is truly Unity in diversity in action.
Much like the land which hosts it, INDIA.
3. Celebration of Art
Kolkata, from the early stages of its formation, has been one of the prime centres for art and culture in India.
The city has one of the highest percentages of writers, singers, artists, actors and several other people involved with art.
A confluence of all these people can be seen at the Book Fair every year.
You will see writers of various ages interacting with people. Singers sing among the crowd with a guitar in hand.
Artists offer you to make a portrait in a few minutes in exchange for a few bucks.
It is a celebration of art all around.
The above pictures show one such talented young guy, singing “Country roads” by Pete Seeger with a guitar in hand.
He sang with such joy not caring about the noise around.
I was mesmerised by the performance.
Celebrities also visit the Bookfair for performances, often interacting directly with their fans.
Overall it is a spectacle that must be seen and felt in person.
4. Personal Experience
It has been a routine for the three of us to visit Bookfair every year since my childhood.
We come here not just to buy books but experience the culture. It is a breath of fresh air outside of our busy lives.
This year was no exception. We went there, enjoyed our time, and bought books on different topics.
I met my friends there, some of them are writers as well.
A few of them had their book launch. Pictures and autographs followed.
From my personal experience, I suggest everyone, visit Kolkata Bookfair at least once in their life.
Experience this grand celebration of knowledge, art and culture.
You will understand why it is one of the biggest events in INDIA.
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