23rd Delhi Book Fair & Bharat Lokotsav Held at Raisina Bengali School Ground

New Delhi | March 22, 2026

The 23rd Delhi Book Fair and Bharat Lokotsav was successfully held from March 19 to 22, 2026, at the grounds of Raisina Bengali School, Mandir Marg, New Delhi. The event was organised by the Bengal Association, in collaboration with the Kolkata Creative Publishers Welfare Association and Raisina Bengali School.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by Shri Bhupendra Kainthola, Principal Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, along with Colonel Dipankar Barua.

This year’s fair witnessed vibrant participation with nearly 100 stalls showcasing Bengali and English books, along with a diverse range of handicrafts, making it a lively cultural and literary hub.

The event saw the presence of several eminent personalities, including Dr. Sanjeev Sanyal, Economic Adviser to the Hon’ble Prime Minister; Shri Subhashis Ghosh, Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister of West Bengal; noted sports journalists Joydeep Basu and Sabyasachi Sarkar; eminent poet Subodh Sarkar; writers and journalists Samriddha Dutta and Agni Roy; and social media content creator Jhilam Gupta, among others.

A special highlight of the fair was the unveiling of the “Azad Hind Watch” by Lieutenant R. Madhavan Pillai, the last surviving representative of the Azad Hind Fauj, marking a moment of historical significance.

Among the key attractions was “Surbahar,” a high-quality music competition featuring choir groups from various colleges of Delhi University. The event also featured “Rongdhonu,” a collaborative musical performance by Bengali music groups from Delhi, the interactive game show “Shabdobaji,” and a unique musical act by Sanjay Mondal and his team, who performed using instruments made from recycled materials.

According to the organisers, the book fair plays a crucial role in encouraging reading habits among the younger generation and fostering a deeper connection wit