VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada Book Festival Society (VBFS) will organise the 28th Navyandhra Pustaka Sambaralu from January 1 to 11, at Swaraj Maidhan (PWD Grounds). The book exhibition will open to public from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Discussions, seminars, book releases, cultural programmes, competitions for children will mark the event, and entry is free, said society president B. Babjee.
Disclosing this to the newsmen here on Saturday, he said VBFS was organising the festival in association with the Department of Culture and NTR Trust and Language. The premises has been named after the society permanent member the Late Paruchuri Narasimha Rao, and the cultural venue has been named after the Late Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna.
CM to inaugurate
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the book festival at 6 p.m. on January 1, said society vice-president K. Lakshmaiah.
As many as 350 stalls will display and sell books during the 11-day festival. Famous book publishers from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and other States are participating in it.
“All India Radio (AIR), Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan (SSA), Tribal Welfare Department, Kapu and Brahmin Corporations, Department of Culture, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) and other wings will set up stalls at the expo,” said Vijay Bhaskar, Director, Department of Culture.
About 250 writers have been invited for the show and different books penned by them on various topics will be released.
Book Lovers’ Walk
The organisers will conduct `Pustaka Priyula Padayatra’ (Book Lovers’ Walk) from Press Club, Gandhinagar, in the city to PWD Grounds at 4 p.m. on January 4. Children’s books, play area for kids, Wi-Fi and other facilities will be provided on the premises (Swaraj Maidhan), society joint secretary B. Ravi Kumar said.
Book festivals were conducted at Tirupati, Anantapur, Nellore and Rajamahendravaram with the help of NTR Trust and the officials of Department of Culture earlier, said Trust Chief Executive Officer Vishnu.
Vijayawada Book Festival Society treasurer K. Ravi and other members were present.
