Kolkata Book Fair is an annual winter exhibition held usually during January and February. Motivated by the World Book Fair in 1972 in New Delhi, the Calcutta Book Fair was incepted by the Calcutta Publishers' and Booksellers' Guild in 1976. Since then it has grown to be the largest attended book fair globally with footfall crossing over a million.
Kolkata Book Fair Venue
During the initial years the Book Fair in Kolkata was held in the Victoria Memorial adjacent grounds. Caused by a gradual increase in popularity of the book exhibition, and increased number of participants from India and abroad, the venue shifted to the Park Street end of the Maidan. In this new venue the fair spread over an area of approximately 800,000 square feet with the stalls covering about 200,000 square feet. This venue was ideally located as it was accessible by road and tube rail.
However because of environmental reasons the venue of the 32nd Kolkata Book Fair in 2007 shifted to the adjacent compound of the Salt Lake Stadium beside the Eastern Metropolitan By-pass.
Kolkata Book Fair attractions
In addition to the numerous books and book stalls that cross the 500 mark, there are dedicated enclaves, pavilions, and regular events that pull large crowds to this fair. These attractions are:
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- 2005 onwards, a foreign country is invited as a 'guest of honor' and has a pavilion dedicated to it. In 2005, France was the honored nation, followed by Spain and Australia in 2006, and 2007 respectively.
- The Chief Guest of the Kolkata Book Fair is from the themed international nation. The likes of Richard Dawkins, and Gunter Grass had attended as chief guests.
- A dedicated pavilion for little magazines
- A release gallery for maiden publication of books during the book fair
- A children's section since the 25th Kolkata Boi Mela in 2000.
- 'Montmarte', a pavilion in the line of Paris Maontmarte, for budding poets, writers, artists, and painters
- Competitive events like essay writing, poetry composition, and elocution for children
- Discussions with established writers, poets
- Out of circulation books are available in the Calcutta Book Fair.
- Slightly damaged and discarded books are sold at attractive discounted prices.
In the 26th Kolkata Book Fair in 2001, Nabanita Dev Sen released her first inter net edition Bengali book Pete Seeger, released an album of live concert in Kolkata at the Kolkata Book Fair. 'Mohiner Ghoraguli', the first Bengali rock band released their album 'Aabar Bachhar Kuri Porey' in the book fair.
The Kolkata Book Fair has become an important event in the calendar of Kolkata. All residents of Kolkata and the adjoining areas wait eagerly for this annual event.
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