Bhubaneswar: The 7th Odisha State Book Festival, being organised under the aegis of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, is witnessing a steady surge of visitors as it approaches its concluding days at the Unit-3 Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar. Regarded as the largest book festival in the state, the event has drawn readers, students, artists and families in large numbers.
One of the major attractions this year is the live sketching counter set up by Bibhuti Kanungo College of Art and Crafts. Every evening, eight students from the college create live pencil and brush-colour sketches of visitors, drawing significant interest from readers. A pencil sketch is priced at ₹350, while brush-colour sketches or paintings cost ₹450.
Shashikant, a student of the painting department at Bibhuti Kanungo College of Art and Crafts, said that participating in live sketching at the book festival has been a rewarding experience. He noted that such opportunities help students sharpen their artistic skills, interact directly with the public and understand people’s interest in art. He added that the students had earlier participated in live sketching at the Indian Road Congress and aspire to take part in national and international-level art exhibitions in the future.
Beyond books, the festival is also focusing on public awareness and education. A dedicated stall by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been set up to promote financial literacy. The stall provides financial education books and guidelines related to various financial schemes, including investments in the securities market, savings and insurance, pensions, retirement and estate planning, as well as government-backed investment options. A daily quiz competition is also organised at the SEBI stall, with gifts being distributed to participants.
In view of the upcoming Census in India in 2027, a special census stall has been established at the festival to raise public awareness. Census booklets for each district of Odisha, based on the 2011 census data, are available at the stall and have attracted considerable attention from readers.
Similarly, the Telecom Department has set up a cyber awareness stall to educate visitors on digital safety. The stall provides information on how to avoid cyber fraud and protect oneself from online scams.
This year’s book festival features around 550 stalls, with participation from more than 200 publishers and booksellers. A wide range of books, including stories, poems, essays and textbooks, are on offer. Visitors are also enjoying local flavours, sipping Koraput coffee and relishing millet-based dishes at the food stalls.
The 7th Odisha State Book Festival is currently underway at the Unit-3 Exhibition Ground, Bhubaneswar, and will continue until December 17, 2025.
