Balangir, Jan. 6: Help your child discover her hidden talents at the children’s corner, the highlight of this year’s Balangir book fair — ‘Bahi Hata’ — scheduled to begin on Saturday.

“The children’s corner will guide children to recognise their hidden talents. A panel consisting of writers, artists and cartoonists will guide the children to help them discover and nurture their talent,” said the president of Balangir Zilla Lekhak Parishad, Shashi Bhusan Purohit.

For the first time, the book fair will also host a women writers’ convention, Purohit added. “Punyaprabha Devi will be the chief guest on the occasion and Sakuntala Baliarsingh of the Odisha Lekhika Parishad will be the speaker.” The organisers of Bahi Haat said Srinivas Udgata would inaugurate the eight-day book fair on Saturday. A seminar on Intellectual and politicians are in the way of development of Balangir, which will be presided over by Madhu Sudan Pati, will be held on Sunday.

The seminar will be followed by Koshali poet get-together in memory of Prahallad Maharana who passed away recently.

Purohit said 30 publishers, including the Kendriya Sahiyta Academy, are expected to participate in the book fair. “We are providing 50 stalls for the book fair. So far, we have received consent from about 30 publishers,” he said.