Tag: book fair

Book Fair Returns to Thirunakkara

Kottayam’s hallmark-event and hallmark-venue re-joined and is a perfect match. The landscaped ground adds energy to the already active event.

Details

Date: 28th January (Friday) – 6th February (Sunday) 2011
Time: 8.30 am to 8.30 pm
Venue: Thirunakkara Grounds
Entry fee: Rs. 5/- (Free entry for school students)

This year’s floor plan is radically different from the previous years’. Instead of isolated pavilions, this time the stalls are well connected with ample passages in between. Yes, it’s more spacious and dust-free too. This is one of the main reasons that set the Book Fair apart from the other events like the Flower Show where a fixed path is to be followed by the visitors. Once inside the the fair, you can move around freely.

Even when visitors come in large numbers, there is no fuss/rush. People move about and find publishers or books that interests them and stay engrossed. This makes noise and other distractions non-existent.

In all, our Book Fair is a great feel-good event.
See the video below to see what the fair is like this time. Photos follow.

You may read about the 2010 Book Fair or see some interesting book covers from it (links will open in new tab/window).

After 14 Years, School Kalolsavam Comes to Kottayam

The Kerala School Kalolsavam (Youth Festival) for the year 2010-2011 is just weeks away — 17 18th to 23rd January 2011.

UPDATE: Read the newer post with details about the Preparations

10,000 participants accompanied by about 30,000 teachers/parents.
216 events. 16 venues. 7 Days & 6 Nights.
Over a lakh visitors.

The Police Club Ground adjacent to the Civil Station will be the main venue. The remaining venues will be at the main educational institutions in town. These are not finalized yet.

Since the dates & venues coincide, the Darsana International Book Fair and the Flower Show/Food Fest might be rescheduled.
Update:
The 27th Darsana Book Fair 2011 will be held from 28th Jan – 06th Feb, at Thirunakkara Grounds.
The annual Flower Show will be held from January 13-16 at Nagampadom Grounds. Kalolsavam will begin the very next day.
The 2011 Food Fest will be held from 03rd February – 06th February at Nagampadom Grounds.

The months of December and January have always been the epitome of activities and fests. This time, the presence of Asia’s biggest youth festival is sure to make things massive indeed. The necessary planning and arrangements have started.

UPDATE: Read the newer post with details about the Preparations

International Book Fair – The Mega Event – This November

27th November – 6th December; it’s the 26th edition of Kottayam’s mega event : The Kottayam International Book Fair organized by Darsana Cultural Centre at Municipal Grounds, Nagampadom. Enjoyed by 2lakh+ people, the Kottayam International Book Fair is the oldest and the biggest book exhibition of the State.

  • 1985 : 30 Publishers, 1500+ titles, 3000+ visitors
  • 2008 : 200+ Publishers, 30k+ titles. 2.25 lacs visitors

As clear from this, all aspects of the book fair have been tremendously progressing edition by edition.

For the 10 fair days, Kottayam will be buzzing with book lovers from all districts of erstwhile Central Travancore. And the 10 awesome days will see all cultural leaders of the state in town, for the numerous programmes/meets as part of the fair.

Book fair, for the people of Kottayam, is not just another commercial fete. For many it’s nostalgic. Since this has been happening here for a long period of 25+ years, it is considered a part of Kottayam’s living and a happy time of the year. And this very emotional attachment with the fair is what makes it stand out and shine amidst the innumerable other events. The characteristic feature of the event is that, in India, it is the book fair visited by the largest number of families.

The charm of the book fair doesn’t die out with the event. It continues and every year, it’s rekindled. And this time, we’re here to celebrate it like never before. This is the first book fair for KP (KottayamPattanam) and we’re getting ready to absorb and reproduce the charm & splendour of the event, to the maximum detail possible.

Coming days will see more posts on the event. All posts about the event will carry the official tag – bookfair09