Visitors browse through books at Cuttack Book Fair on Sunday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, March 6: A large number of book lovers thronged the Bali Jatra ground on the opening day of Cuttack Book Fair here.

The book fair, organised by National Book Trust of India (NBT), in association with the district administration and Orissa Publishers and Booksellers Association, is being held after a gap of almost three years.

Around 110 publishers from the state and outside have set up their stalls at the book fair this time. “The National Book Trust has been working to promote books and publishers by organising such book fairs across the country. This perhaps is the reason for the delay in holding the book fair here,” said NBT director Satish Kumar.

According to Kumar, NBT promotes various short stories and children’s book writers and publishers by translating in them in as many as 13 languages. The printing usually takes time and we are trying our best to exhibit them in such book fairs. “The response to the book fair in Cuttack has been beyond our expectation because we were hoping for the participation of only 70 publishers. But this time, already 110 publishers have participated and many other publishers are asking for stalls,” he said, adding that everyone could not be accommodated due to the lack of space and other limitations. “However, we are happy that publishers from from Orissa and outside have set up their stalls where books are available for all ages,” he added.

“A book fair is needed because publishers do not have adequate scope for marketing of their books,” said eminent poet and former Kendriya Sahitya Academy president Ramakanta Rath, who was appreciative of the fact that book fairs were now being held on a regular basis at various parts of the state.

. Secondly, these days, book lovers do not have information of books that have been published as earlier, such information was published in newspapers. But that is not happening these days,” said eminent poet and former Kendriya Sahitya Academy president Ramakanta Rath, who was appreciative of the fact that book fairs were now being held on a regular basis at various parts of the state.

“It is a great thing that book fair is being held in the city after so many years. There is an excitement among book lovers as they have now got an opportunity to scan through a variety of new and old publications at one place,” said Sidheswar Biswal, a visitor.