Srinagar, July 26 (JKNS): ) The nine-day-long Chinar Book Festival 2026 concluded on a historic note in Srinagar, attracting record-breaking footfall and reaffirming its status as Kashmir’s largest literary and cultural festival. Organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the District Administration Srinagar and the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), the festival transformed the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) into a vibrant hub of books, culture, innovation and public engagement.
Daily visitor turnout ranged between nearly 57,000 and 73,000 on weekdays, while weekend attendance touched nearly one lakh, reflecting overwhelming public participation from across Jammu and Kashmir.
The festival, held under the theme “Together We Read, Together We Lead (Mil Kar Padhenge, Mil Kar Badhenge),” featured participation from over 200 publishers, more than 800 authors and artists, besides thousands of students, teachers, families and literature enthusiasts.
The festival was inaugurated on July 18 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who described it as a symbol of peace, transformation and self-belief in Jammu and Kashmir. During the inaugural ceremony, 24 bilingual Gojri titles, five Rajtarangini-inspired novels and the Urdu translation of Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages were also released.
One of the major highlights came on the seventh day with the launch of the children’s comic book “Vidya and Chhota Bheem: Big Green Mission” in 48 languages by NBT in collaboration with Bisleri International, promoting environmental awareness among children.
The festival hosted several prominent personalities, including Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, veteran actor Rakesh Bedi, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and several noted authors, artists and intellectuals, who interacted with audiences on literature, cinema, innovation, education and cultural heritage.
Panel discussions explored diverse themes including Kashmir’s literary identity, journalism, theatre, Urdu language, tourism, innovation, traditional crafts and digital transformation. Dedicated sessions also highlighted women’s leadership and contributions to society.
A landmark achievement of this year’s festival was the 5-kilometre Reading Marathon, flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in which over 4,644 students participated. The event entered both the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records for the highest participation of children in a marathon promoting reading and environmental awareness.
The Children’s Corner remained one of the most visited attractions throughout the festival, featuring storytelling sessions, puppet shows, craft workshops, calligraphy demonstrations and awareness programmes on the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya digital library.
Each evening witnessed colourful cultural performances, including Rouf dance, Kashmiri folk theatre, Sufiyana music, Mushaira sessions and musical performances by local artists, showcasing Kashmir’s rich artistic traditions.
On the concluding day, coinciding with Kargil Vijay Diwas, the festival featured the patriotic stage production “Markar Jeena” by noted playwright Rakesh Roshan Bhatt, paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers.
NBT Chairman Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe said the festival reflected the vision of the National Education Policy 2020 by encouraging learning beyond classrooms and promoting a lifelong reading culture among youth.
NBT Director Yuvraj Malik described the Chinar Book Festival as a cultural ambassador of Kashmir’s literary heritage, adding that it has significantly contributed towards promoting literary tourism in the Valley.
Chief Convenor Dr. Amit Wanchoo said the response from readers, students and families exceeded all expectations, with participants enthusiastically engaging in literary sessions, cultural programmes, workshops and interactive discussions.
The Chinar Book Festival 2026 was organised with support from several departments and institutions, including the District Administration Srinagar, J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Directorate of School Education Kashmir, Higher Education Department, Srinagar Smart City, Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Bisleri International, Paras Health and various government and private organisations.
As the festival concluded, organisers expressed confidence that the Chinar Book Festival would continue to grow as one of India’s premier literary festivals, carrying forward the message that Kashmir will keep reading, keep learning and keep leading together. (JKNS)
