The 49th International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) is witnessing unprecedented success, with massive crowds flocking to the fairground in the city. According to estimates from the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the event's organizers, the first four days of the fair—which coincided with an extended holiday weekend from Friday to Monday—saw a staggering footfall of nearly 14 lakh visitors.
Visitor Numbers Continue to Surge
Guild officials reported that approximately 1.5 lakh more visitors attended the fair on Tuesday, bringing the total attendance to nearly 15.5 lakh in just the first five days. With another full week remaining, the fair is on track to surpass all previous attendance records. Last year, the event attracted around 27 lakh visitors over its entire duration, but this year's early numbers suggest a significant increase in popularity.
Organizers Express Delight
"We are absolutely thrilled that so many book lovers are visiting the book fair," said Sudhangshu Sekhar Dey, President of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild. "This overwhelming response clearly demonstrates that the love for books remains strong and vibrant in our society. Our team at the guild is working tirelessly to provide all necessary facilities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for every visitor."
Traffic and Sales Highlights
After the initial rush during the holiday weekend, traffic police officers noted a visible respite in pedestrian flow outside the fairground on Tuesday, allowing for smoother management. Meanwhile, book sales have been exceptionally encouraging, with Guild General Secretary Tridib Chatterjee revealing a 10% increase in sales compared to the first four to five days of last year's fair.
"It is truly heartening to see people actively purchasing books," Chatterjee remarked. "During the extended holiday weekend, we observed approximately 10% higher book sales compared to the same period last year, indicating a robust market for literature."
Diverse Reading Interests on Display
Guild officials noted that visitors are showing keen interest in new book releases, with many querying about titles launched specifically for this year's fair. Alongside perennial favorites like classic literature and non-fiction, there is growing demand for scientific research-oriented books. Book enthusiasts are also actively seeking out works by new writers and authors, whose books are being featured in stalls across various publishing houses.
The children's book stalls and the little magazine pavilion have been particularly popular, drawing large crowds. This year, over 1,000 new books have been released at the fair, adding to the diverse offerings.
Bangladeshi Literature in Focus
For the second consecutive year, the Bangladesh pavilion is absent from the fair. However, guild officials mentioned that many visitors are still searching for books by Bangladeshi writers, which are available through stalls of different Indian publishing houses.
"Books by renowned Bangladeshi poets, authors, and novelists such as Humayun Ahmed, Jasimuddin, Anisuz Zaman, and Sadat Hossain continue to be in high demand," a guild official shared.
Antara Banerjee, a resident of Salt Lake, expressed her sentiments: "The absence of the Bangladesh pavilion is noticeable, as it previously offered a convenient space to explore works by various Bangladeshi poets and writers under one roof."
As the International Kolkata Book Fair progresses, organizers remain optimistic about setting new benchmarks in both attendance and literary engagement, reinforcing Kolkata's status as a hub for bibliophiles.
