Bringing in some cheer for both publishers and readers alike, the fourth edition of the Chennai Book Festival will be held from August 17 to 27 at the YMCA grounds in Royapettah.
The book festival will have over 200 stalls selling books in Tamil and English as well as see a number of new titles being released. It is organised by the Tamil Nool Veliyeedu Matrum Nool Virpanai Membaattu Kuzhumam.
“While the major book fair takes place generally at the start of the year, this smaller fair will enable publishers to introduce new titles and connect with the readers now. Many publishers have been facing difficulties and the book festival will be a great opportunity for them to reach out to the readers,” said R.S. Shanmugam, executive trustee.
The organisers said they expect more than three lakh people. “We have additionally reached out to schools across Chennai for children to be brought to the fair,” Mr. Shanmugam said.
To give readers an idea of what to pick up, a huge banner will be put up at the venue where visitors can write short recommendations of books they have read and why they enjoyed reading it. Cultural programmes have been scheduled at the festival. On August 22, art competitions will be held for children from 9 a.m. There is no entry fee and the fair will be open from 2 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends.