Delegates release souvenir at the inaugural ceremony of Talcher book fair. Telegraph picture

Angul, Jan. 24: An eight-day-long book fair began in Talcher coal city yesterday.

As many as 60 kiosks have been set up in the book fair. For the first time in last eight years, a publishing house from New Delhi has participated in the fair.

“We had heard that there are very good business opportunities in Talcher book fair. So, this year we participated in the book fair. We are expecting a sale of Rs 1 lakh,” said Ramesh Sigh Chauhan, owner of Kanak Book Distributor of Delhi.

“A plenty of spiritual and other books are available in our kiosk,” he said.

“Besides Talcher, we also took part in book fairs in Puri, Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar,” said Chauhan.

An English book was released by winner of Orissa Sahitya Academy award, Bipin Behari Mishra, at the inaugural function.

The book, titled The Connectors, has been written by Ramesh Sahu, who heads a local spoken English institution.

Mishra called upon all Oriyas to read Oriya books for the sustenance and development of Oriya literature. He asked all Angul residents to visit book fair.