Dilip Guha, New Delhi: New Delhi Kali Bari (NDKB) a premiere hub for bengali art and culture in Delhi NCR is organising First Bengali Book Fair cum Handloom Fair at its premises Mandir Marg New Delhi in association with Publishers and Booksellers Guild of West Bengal, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India and Sahitya Kala Parishad and Govt. of Delhi.
The fair formally inaugurated on 22nd April, 2023., on the eve of World Book Day by Shri Pradip Bhattacharya, life member of NDKB and MP along with other dignitaries Shri Satyam Roy Chowdhury, V Chancellor Sister Nivedita University, Shri Mrinal Chatterjee, IRS, Chairman Book Fair, and Dr. Ashok Kumar Dutta, President New Delhi Kali Bari. The nine day festival will run through 30th April 2023.
Idea of this book and handloom fair is conceptualised by NDKB in such a way it becomes a grand festival with attractions such as handloom and handicraft exhibition, food festival, seminars, and cultural performance by various Bengali schools students and artists, among others.
Speaking to this reporter Shri Swapan Ganguly, Secretary, New Delhi Kali Bari, said “this type of biggest fair ever held in Delhi, it has thirty three book stalls out of which 30 stalls are put up by Publishers and Booksellers Guild of West Bengal, one from Ramakrishna mission New Delhi, one of Nikhil Bharat Bangiyo Sahityo and One of Children book stall and in Handloom section we have 12 stalls out of which 10 stalls are put up by Ministry of Textiles in which weaver’s from seven different states are participating Visitors can purchase quality products at affordable prices directly from the weaver’s.”
NDKB in association with Tapan’s Fine Arts Academy is also organizing Art Workshop at the Art and sculpture stall where live demo will be held on art and sculptures. He said, “To make it more attractive ‘Artist in Action’ will also be there wherein painters and sculpture will perform live. Visitors will be able to enjoy authentic and sumptuous Bengali food at our food court. On the spot Hand Writing Competition, instant Reading Competition, Elocution Competition for school children will be held during the festival. Eminent speakers from Delhi and outside shall enthrall the audience on different topics during seminar and book launches. Renowned artists from different states shall perform to make the cultural evenings enjoyable.”
he added. On the inaugural day musical performances presented by troups of Nikhil Bharat Sahitya Sammelan (Nagpur branch) and songs by Sounak Chattopaadhyaay (Kolkata) kept the audience captivated.