Aug 2, 2025: Over 200 bookshops and publishers from all over the country will be present at the start of the second Chinar Book Festival, which will last nine days. The National Book Trust's festival, which will take place at the SKICC overlooking the Dal Lake between August 2 and 10, will be opened by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of J&K. According to the organizers, this year's celebration of literature in various languages promises to be even more expansive following the overwhelming response to its inaugural event last year. According to them, the fair will offer a vibrant platform for dialogue, discovery, and community engagement as well as a wider selection of books, diverse events, and the participation of new literary voices. The festival's organizers stated at a press conference that over 200 publishers and bookstalls from across India will exhibit titles in English, Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, and other Indian languages during the nine-day event. They added that the fair promises a rich and inclusive selection for readers of all ages, including bilingual children's books, academic works, regional literature, and digital content. According to National Book Trust Director Yuvraj Malik, "this year's edition extends beyond a conventional book exhibition, positioning the festival as a platform for intellectual engagement, cultural dialogue, and educational enrichment." “The Rajtarangini Samvad, a devoted series of workshops and panel discussions examining the historical, literary, and cultural aspects of the classical Kashmiri text, is a notable component. Malik stated, "The festival will also feature a national exhibition on the ancient Sharda script and the first-ever Gojri translation workshop." This workshop will produce bilingual books in English, Hindi, Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri, and English to encourage linguistic diversity and inclusion. According to him, the Tamil-Kashmiri Samvad, which will be held as part of the "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" initiative and will focus on the cultural and spiritual traditions that are shared by the two regions, will be a major cultural highlight. The event will have three components every day with a children activities session in the morning, book releases, author and writer interactions in the afternoon, and artistic showcases in the evening where local artistes will perform, he said.
Malik went on to say that the fair is open to everyone, and there will be special discounts on books. Shams Iqbal, the director of the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language, stated that the festival is a historic initiative that will enhance the promotion of book culture in Jammu and Kashmir and cultivate harmony and connection among various Indian languages. He added that prominent publishers of the Urdu language will attend the event.