Book fair at Gandhi Maidan draws over 1 lakh visitors in first weekend

Patna: The 41st Patna Book Fair, which opened on Dec 5, turned Gandhi Maidan into a literary hub on Sunday. Drawing over a lakh visitors, the fair celebrated the timeless appeal of printed books in a digital era, featuring a mix of book launches, interactive sessions, and collections that catered to every reader — from children to competitive exam aspirants.The massive turnout reaffirmed the city’s deep connection to literature and learning. Binit Kumar, a senior official at the fair, said, “Over the first weekend, we saw a footfall of over a lakh, with a footfall of around 80,000 recorded solely on Sunday. We are overwhelmed with the response, and it is wonderful to see people come and participate in the activities and take part in the interactive sessions.”“I came specifically for the comprehensive question banks.

While I love novels, here, I can also compare 10 years of solved papers from different publishers, side-by-side easily at the book fair,” said Ravi Kumar, a UPSC aspirant.Amit Jha, the convenor of the fair and an associate of the event for over two decades, said, "In this digital era, it is all the more important to bring back the habit of reading printed books among the youth." Jha added, "Even if everyone is not buying a book, it is still in progress if they are interacting with the stalls and picking up a book in their hands, even if it is just to browse.

This can be seen as a start."Of the three book launches that took place on Sunday, the one that truly stole the show was the unveiling of the world’s most expensive book. Written by Ratneshwar, this literary work is available in both Hindi and English. Priced at Rs 15 crore, it instantly became the fair's focal point. Organisers confirmed that only three copies of this book are up for sale, with one copy reserved for the Bihar Museum after the book fair concludes.Seven-year-old Anika, clutching a new fantasy book, summed up the collective joy of the day. “I bought two and wanted to buy three more books, but Papa told me to finish these first,” she exclaimed. The 41st Patna Book Fair, which concludes on Dec 16, promises many more days of such synergy, filled with new activities and discussions, especially around its theme: Wellness - A way of life.