48th International Kolkata Book Fair 2025

Gopal Krishna Gokhale once said, "Bengalis are a nation of readers, for whom books are a religion." To keep Bengalis religiously reading, the Kolkata Book Fair has once again come to the City of Joy, Kolkata. This year, at the 48th Kolkata Book Fair, innovation will meet culture. With two major surprises—the first one, a mascot, and the second one, an entirely open-air event—the Kolkata Book Fair is expecting a footfall of almost 25 lakh bookworms.

Time and Venue

The year-long wait will be over in six days. After the grand inauguration on 28 January, the 48th Kolkata Book Fair will continue from 28 January to 9 February in Boimela Prangan, Saltlake, beside the Karunamoyee bus stand. Like every year, this year, the grand festival has been organized by the Publishers and Book Sellers Guild. Officially, the timespan for each day has been allotted from 12 PM to 8 PM.

The Historical Background of the Kolkata Book Fair

The Kolkata Book Fair is considered one of the largest literary events in Asia. Since 1976, this festival has been organized annually in Kolkata. Apart from the celebration of Bengali and Indian literature, Kolkata Book Fair has been the epitome of cross-cultural exchange. Every year, a special pavilion for a guest country is established to introduce the locals to global literature.

Highlights of Kolkata Book Fair 2025

Mascot: For the first time, the book lovers of Bengal will have the fun of a mascot. And the mascot is none other than the vehicle of Vidyadevi Saraswati, the swan. The male and female swans have been given a very adorable bookworm look with spectacle in their eyes and books in their hands.

The theme country: This year the focal theme country of the Kolkata Book Fair is Germany. Dr Philipp Ackermann, H.E. Ambassador of Germany in India and Dr. Marla Stukenberg, Director, Goethe Institute will be present at the grand inaugural ceremony on 28th January 2025 as Guests of Honour.

Open-air event: This time Kolkata Book Fair is going to break the walls and make the fair an open-air event. Unlike earlier years there will be no separate halls for English language publishers. Rather there will be a designated ‘Premier Area’ for all English language participants.

Exhibition of illustrations: This time Kolkata Book Fair is going to be much more than just a book fair. The event will provide you once in a lifetime opportunity to witness original illustrations on various Bengali books from 1800 to 1900. The collection for the exhibition has been made by Shri Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya.

The Dark Chapters of Kolkata Book Fair 2025

Bangladesh unseen: For the first time ever in 28 years, Bangladesh is missing from the list of participatory countries in the Kolkata Book Fair. The reason behind this misfortune is unclear. However, people are speculating that the reason is the ongoing geo-political turmoil between the two neighbours.

Stall denied: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has filed a petition in the Kolkata High Court accusing the organisers of the Kolkata Book Fair of denying a stall to the body.

The 48th Kolkata Book Fair is the grand celebration of culture, literature and innovation. While challenges linger, the grand literary festival is going to unite book lovers around the world and tie them together with the magic of fiction and non-fictions. Like every year this year too Kolkata Book Fair will leave its legacy amidst every ups and downs.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

*The views expressed are personal to the author and do not reflect the platform's opinion of the same.