The 8th Coimbatore Book Festival will be held from July 19 to 28 at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex. The event features over 280 stalls, literary competitions, and a book donation drive.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore District Administration and CODISSIA are set to host the 8th annual Coimbatore Book Festival from July 19 to 28 at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex. This literary extravaganza will feature publishers from Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and various other states, with over 280 stalls planned for the event.
District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati, addressing the media, expressed confidence in the festival's success, highlighting its consistent growth over the years. He outlined plans for various events, awards, and competitions, emphasizing the collaborative effort between the District Library Department and CODISSIA in organizing the festival.
Reflecting on last year's success, the Collector noted that book sales reached approximately 2 crore rupees, setting a benchmark for this year's expectations. He also mentioned the continuation of the book donation drive, recalling how 2,000 books were donated to prison inmates last year through this initiative.
The festival aims to engage school students by coordinating with local schools to bring them to the event. With 285 stalls planned, publishers from multiple states are expected to participate, offering a diverse range of books for all age groups.
Pati announced that various literary competitions for students are in the planning stages, adding an educational dimension to the festival. He emphasized that the event will run continuously from July 19 to 28 without any holidays, encouraging the public to make the most of this opportunity.
The Collector concluded by reminding everyone that entry to the Coimbatore Book Festival is free, making it accessible to all literature enthusiasts and the general public alike.
The opening day, July 19, will feature an award ceremony for young authors at 6 PM. R. Poopalan will receive an award for poetry, while N. Kokilan will be honored for fiction. Lawyer K. Sumathi, a writer and speaker, will deliver a congratulatory address.
On July 20, the festival will host 'Arivukeni' events for 'Illam Thedi Kalvi' trainers at 11 AM. The evening will see CODISSIA presenting its Lifetime Achievement Award, which includes a cash prize of Rs. 1.5 lakhs and a citation. Anthropologist Dr. Baktavatsala Bharati will receive this prestigious award, with Professor S. Chitra, Head of the Tamil Department at Bharathiar University, offering felicitations.
The following days will be packed with diverse events, including poetry recitals, workshops for young writers, musical performances of Sangam Tamil songs, and speech competitions for students. Notable events include a grand poetry session by Dr. Kavithasan on July 22, a major storytelling session by Bava Chelladurai on the same day, and a theater performance of "Anniyal" by Theater Marina on July 24.
The festival will also feature discussions on various topics, including a session on "50 Years of Haiku Poetry - Growth and Achievements" on July 23, and a talk on "Travel for Body and Mind" by Dr. Sivaraman on July 25.
A special highlight of the festival is the "Library in Every Industry" event on July 27, which will run from 10 AM to 8 PM. This day will feature various competitions and special programs for workers and their families, with a special address by Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Minister for School Education.
The festival will conclude on July 28 with a seminar on "Climate Change" organized by the Osai Environmental Organization, followed by debates in the evening.
Throughout the ten days, the festival will host numerous other events, including poetry sessions, debates, drama performances, and competitions for students of different age groups, making it a comprehensive celebration of literature and culture.