From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Oct 25: Over a million book titles will be on display at the eighth edition of the 10-day Bangalore Book Festival (BBH) 2010, which is set to commence at the Bangalore Palace Grounds from November 12.
A record number of over 300 stalls from the country’s biggest publishers, distributors, exporters and importers are expected to participate in the biggest-ever show, which is touted as India’s second largest book festival after Kolkata.
The books under diverse categories in most of the major languages is expected to attract more than 2 lakh people and generate an estimated total business of about Rs 15 crore according to B S Raghuram, BBF programme director.
As part of the Book Festival, a bonanza of entertainment programmes ranging from light music to folk dance programmes, book-reading sessions and special poets' meets will be held during the festival after 6 pm everyday.
''Like last year, this year too we are promoting book trade through the book fair," Raghuram said, pointing out that the BBH will provide the best opportunity book lovers and book readers as also publishers and all involved in the book trade to meet under one roof in a festival of this scale.
Balram Sadvani, President, Bangalore Book Publishers’ Association (BBPA), said all efforts have been made to hold the festival on a grand manner.
This festival would become a trendsetter for other states, he said pointing out that several publishers have already committed their participation.
Devaru Bhat, secretary BBPA, said that the event is spread over 75,000 sq.ft is jointly organised by the Bangalore Booksellers and Publishers Association and Klub Class. The Kannada Book Authority has extended the financial support to the fair.
As part of a strategy to ensure that a large number of people visit the festival, Raghuram said celebrities in the film industry and the corporate world would be invited to the annual book event.
Academic and reading habit would be promoted through this festival by involving the various schools and colleges in the city. The stalls would get bulk orders from libraries of various colleges and research institutes during the festival, he said.
The book festival is open to the public from 11 am to 9 pm and the entry fee is Rs 20. Entry is free for school and college students, a press note said.