Have you planned a visit to Kolkata International Book Fair? It is the World’s Most Visited Book Fair and the third largest annual conglomeration of books. This winter fair which has become an integral of book loving Bong culture, will be held from January 25-February 7, on the customary Milan Mela Grounds near EM Bypass (opposite Kolkata Science City). Like all years, the main organizers Publishers & Booksellers Guild has chosen a country as their focal theme. Bolivia, the Latin American nation well known for its intellectual minds forms the theme.
Like all years, millions of visitors are anticipated at the Mela grounds during the Book Fair. 18 International stalls will adorn the fair, including nations such as Bolivia, Vietnam, Spain, Great Britain, USA, Japan, Turkey, Chile, Peru, Guatemala, Surinam, China and Russia. Apart from this, cultural programs by Bolivian and Vietnamese performers will mark this event. More than 600 book stalls will dot the mela grounds during the 40th International Kolkata Book Fair.
International Kolkata Book Fair is much more than a usual fair; it has become a part of Bong culture. So, here are some unusual activities that visitors to IKBF enjoy:
Fun at Kolkata Book Fair
  • Food Hub: Known largely for book stalls, there are extensive food stalls for the visitors. There are food stalls for every culinary choice – ranging from Chinese, Mughlai to snacks stalls. When families visit the fair, they spend a significant time having some good food.
  • Meeting Point: As mentioned before, the fair is visited by millions. In this extensive conglomeration of people, many find their long disconnected friends or relatives. What follows is not only a courteous exchange of words, but also roaming the fair cherishing long forgotten memories.
  • Socializing Base: Adda is the favorite pastime of Bongs and they engage in idle chit-chat whenever there is scope for it. So, empty spaces in the Mela ground are taken up by groups who sit there talking for hours and explore the rest of the stalls only when their discussions are over (after hours). As the temperatures are low, so the sunny spots on the ground are hard to find real estate!
  • Learning Ground: Bongs know their books and publishers. Every person visiting the fair has a particular roaming plan in mind. They would cover some of their favorite publications. But then stalls of big publications always have long queues, so the plans have to be changed very quickly. Some have to be let go for a later visit. Collecting leaflets from publishers is also an important activity for the book lovers as it contains an extensive catalog of books from the publisher.
  • Quick Looks: Most of the booksellers see the fair as a scope for exposure more than sales. People can get a flat 10% discount on books if they visit College Street (or the hub of permanent bookstalls in Kolkata), but there is no such discount at the fair. So, this is an opportunity for the book lovers to learn about all the latest publications and read a bit of synopsis from them if chance arrives.
You can enjoy such fun and much more by visiting the 40th International Kolkata Book Fair.