24 February 2022 will mark the beginning of the 24th edition of the Kochi International Book Festival, that will continue till 6 March at the Ernakulathappan Grounds in the city. The fair will be held for the first time since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic that is still wreaking havoc across the world. The 23rd edition of the book festival which was held in 2019, prior to the pandemic, was a grand success with more than 10,000 visitors on a daily basis.
The first edition of the Kochi International Book Festival was organized in 1997 to commemorate 50 years of India’s independence. The annual book fair, which is put together by the Antharashtra Pusthakotsava Samithi, goes on for 10 days. The Kochi Literature Festival is also co-located with the Kochi International Book Festival.Â
The book festival, held in December each year, provides a B2B interaction environment for publishers, book traders, literary agents, translators, distributors, and traders. The cultural event is also the meeting point of regional book publishers and sees regular attendance from publishing houses in neighboring states as well as established publishing houses from across the country. The publishers employ the book arena to create brand awareness for their literary and knowledge offerings.Â
The fair focuses on the B2C angle as well which makes it an anticipated event in every enthusiast and bibliophile’s calendar. The Kochi International Book Festival offers a line-up of cultural activities for readers of all age groups including book discussions, book launches, book readings, book quizzes, art contests, literary meets, author interactions, panel discussions, and literary workshops, apart from cultural performances. The 2022 physical edition of the event will take place in observance with all Covid-19 precautions and guidelines.
