Second edition of Shillong Book Fair from Oct 5 to 13 in city

Shillong, Oct 4: Separate session to help the state civil service aspirants will be one of the features of the Shillong Book Fair starting from October 5 to 13 in the city organised by the National Book Trust (NBT).

Governor CH Vijayashankar will open the fair on Saturday at 10 am.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Arts and Culture Principal Secretary FR Kharkongor and Director NBT, Yuvraj Malik urged the people of the state especially the students and the youths to attend in large numbers.

The first edition of the book fair held in the city last year was a success, according to the organisers.

Kharkongor and Malik asked the civil service aspirants to make use of the opportunity as there will be experts to help them.

The Shillong book fair will celebrate  Meghalaya’s rich literary and cultural heritage supported by NBT under the union ministry of education, state arts and culture department and education .

In a statement, the NBT said the week-long celebration of books and culture will feature around 100 stalls, showcasing a wide variety of books in different Indian languages and genres. Book lovers can browse and buy books from many publishers at the book fair such as Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Pan Macmillan, National Book Trust India, Woodpecker, Cambridge Book Depot, among others. The event will also serve as a platform for literary and cultural activities throughout the week.

“The book fair will start with engaging fun activities at Children’s Corner with school students including cursive writing sessions, musical storytelling, puppet-making workshops, self-defense classes, caricature drawing, vedic mathematics and much more. Children will also participate in drawing, poster-making, and portrait-making workshop, ensuring an enriching experience for young readers. Expert facilitators such as the Meghalaya Taekwondo Association, Vasudha Ahuja, Kunal Shandilya, Vivek Kumar and Seema Wahi will guide these activities”, said the public relations department.

The afternoons will be abuzz at the Literary Corner that will feature panel discussions and book launches, providing a platform for authors and literary figures to exchange ideas with the audience. This will be followed by an open mic session for youth where college students can showcase their talents in poetry, music, and performance, creating an exciting and creative space for the youth.

The evenings will come alive with cultural performances featuring captivating performances by popular artists from Meghalaya. Audiences will enjoy traditional classical folk dances by Geetanjali Dance Academy; live instrumental music by groups like the Pynter Orchestra, Colors Band, Kupar Shadap Band, Alive Band and cultural expressions such as flute recitals and drum ensembles. These performances will celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Meghalaya, bringing together diverse art forms from the region.

The book festival is open from 11 am to 7 pm daily and the entry for all visitors is free and there will be 10% discount on books.