Kolkata hosts Boiparay Boi Utsab literary fest in city of joy’s ‘book hub’

Kolkata: A literary event “Boiparay Boi Utsab’ (Festival in book hub) will be book lover’s destination in Kolkata from April 1-7 at College Square Ground, known to be the book hub of the city.

The programme will house 55 stalls and 70 publishers, and the festival aims to showcase an extensive collection from both Bengali and English publication houses, offering a diverse literary experience.

It was kicked off by the Publishers and Booksellers Guild with participation of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation last evening.

Sanjib Chattopadhyay said “Boimela (Book Fair) as ‘Boi Parbon’ (book festival) and much like the fair itself, a book festival often involves extensive planning and meticulous arrangements. Till now, Chattopadhyay has made a significant contribution to literature by authoring around 20 lakh books.

The festival was inaugurated by eminent author Sanjib Chattopadhyay, a Member, Mayor-in-Council Debashish Kumar, and attended by poets and writers Joy Goswami, Srijato Bandyopadhyay, Subodh Sarkar among others. Tridib Kr. Chatterjee, President of the Guild and Sudhangshu Sekhar Dey, Honorary General Secretary of the Guild were also present.

With its rich literary offerings and a stellar lineup of literary personalities, ‘Boiparay Boi Utsab’ brings an array of offers for book lovers, fostering a deep appreciation for reading and literature.

The ‘Boiparay Boi Utsab’ was first started in 2013 and was the brainchild of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It started for the first time as part of Bengali New Years’ celebration.

Steeped in literary heritage, College Street is known as the ‘Boi Para’ (Book hub of the city), also Asia’s most historic book district, and goes back to history and legacy to luminaries of the Bengal Renaissance. More than two centuries ago, Vidyasagar played a pivotal role in shaping this vibrant hub of knowledge and culture.