Erode Book Festival to feature 230 stalls, mass reading campaign

The 22nd edition of the Erode Book Festival will be held from July 31 (Friday) to August 11, featuring 230 stalls, literary events and a mass reading campaign aimed at setting a world record, Collector S. Kandasamy said on Thursday (July 30, 2026).

Addressing reporters after inspecting the preparations at the Chikkaiah Government Arts and Science College grounds, Mr. Kandasamy said the festival, organised jointly by the School Education Department and Makkal Sinthanai Peravai for the past 21 years, would be inaugurated on Friday by the Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K.A. Sengottaiyan, Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Publicity Rajmohan, and Minister for Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi M. Vijay Balaji.

Leading publishers and booksellers from across the country will participate in the 12-day festival. The festival will feature daily evening lectures by eminent speakers, besides book releases, literary discussions, seminars, storytelling sessions, cultural programmes and competitions for students. Writers, poets, literary personalities and subject experts will participate in the events. Scholars from Singapore will deliver special lectures, while a separate pavilion showcasing archaeological discoveries, including the Keezhadi excavation, will be set up.

Mr. Kandasamy said the district administration would attempt a world record through a mass reading campaign to mark the 22nd edition of the festival. Under the initiative, people in schools, colleges, libraries, government offices, police stations, municipalities and other public institutions would read books simultaneously for 22 minutes. At least 100 readers would participate at each venue, with the district targeting a total participation of one lakh to 1.5 lakh people. The attempt would be adjudicated by the Elite Book of Records.

He said elaborate arrangements had been made for visitors in coordination with various departments. Visitors purchasing books at the festival would be eligible for a 10% discount.

Superintendent of Police D.V. Kiran Shruthi, Chief Educational Officer E. Manvizhi, District Library Officer Rajendran, Makkal Sinthanai Peravai president Stalin Gunasekaran, and officials from various departments were present during the inspection.