The 46th edition of the Kolkata Book Fair, also known as the Boi Mela, will be inaugurated on January 30 2pm by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. As Spain is the theme of 2023, the guests present at the inauguration will be Mara José Gálvez Salvador from the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Sports and Ambassador of Spain to India, Jose Maria Ridao Domínguez and other dignitaries.
About The Boi Mela
It is said to be the second in dimension and footfall after the Frankfurt Book Fair. And the second largest book fair in the world. This year will see around 900 stalls, of which 700 will be devoted to books and 200 will be dedicated to bengal's famous little magazine genre. These stalls will be named after author and editor Ramapada Choudhury to commemorate his birth centenary.
The fair will be open to visitors between January 31 and February 12. The parallel event, the 9th Kolkata Literature Festival, will run from February 9 to 11 at the SBI Auditorium.
Around 20 countries across the globe will be participating in this year's Boi Mela. Spain is the focal country this year. Appearing as the theme country for the second time, Spain will be represented at the event by authors David Trueba, Eva Baltasar, Luis Garcia Montero, Agustin Fernandez Mayo, Jesus Aguado, Anna Caballe, and Jordi Gracia.
The United States of America, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Japan, France, Cuba, Italy, Australia, and a number of other Latin American nations will all be represented in the Book Fair. Thailand will be taking part for the first time.
All of the main international publishing firms, including Harper Collins, Penguin Random House India, Pan Macmillan, Rupa, Bloomsbury, and many others, will have their own pavilions at the Book Fair.
On February 4, Bangladesh Day will be celebrated with discussions between authors, writers and poets from Kolkata and Bangladesh.
The fair will have several Jute Board-sponsored kiosks to reduce plastics, and bio-toilets.
A Book Lottery
A daily lottery will be held to award winners with free book gift certificates worth Rs 15,000 each day. A programme dubbed "Buy Books and Win a Book Library" will also be available this year. Winners can receive coupons worth Rs 25,000 to use toward the purchase of books at the book fair and a tiny library of books for their homes.
You can find out more about the Kolkata Boi Mela here.
The Information
Where Boimela Prangan, Central Park Mela Ground, Karunamoyee, Salt Lake
When January 31 to February 12, 2023
Timings 12 pm to 8 pm