The beautiful lawns of SKICC beside Dal Lake became a haven for book lovers when the Chinar Book Festival 2025 was organised with great enthusiasm in Srinagar from August 2nd to 10th. The nine-day literary feast was a vibrant event that appealed to readers of all ages, and most especially school children, which made the event come with magical learning and discovery.
The festival had more than 100 book stalls presenting books in English, Hindi, Urdu and Kashmiri languages, thus being a truly multilingual paradise. What was so special about this event was that it united people of different communities with the universal language of books, and that proved that there are no boundaries in terms of religion, region or age when it comes to the world of books.
Chinar Book Festival 2025 : Diverse Collection Capturing Every Interest
There was a great diversity of books, as seen in the festival, to suit various tastes and age levels. Mohammad Rayan of Yusuf Publishers, a publishing house in Meerut, provided their wide range of Islamic literature, which includes Quran translations in various languages such as Urdu, Gujarati, Hindi and English. They also introduced international bestsellers, spiritual handbooks and prayer guides that have been selling well over the years.
Publishers stressed that they prescribe different books to teenagers and to the different age groups, knowing that every reader has different needs. The variety was simply amazing – poetry books were put in proximity to science books, folklore books were put next to contemporary novels, and picture books attracted the attention of young minds with their colourful illustrations.
Technology vs Traditional Reading
A major debate at the festival was on the balance between digital technology and conventional reading habits. Publishers recognised that technology is an excellent tool and that smartphones and laptops are like international libraries in our hands. They, however, greatly stressed that the practice of self-reading by means of physical books enhances human intelligence and knowledge in a way that screens could not.
One publisher elaborated that when you read on-screen, you are not able to immerse yourself in ideas as you do with books. Physical books enable you to read between the lines and seriously contemplate what you have read, something that is hard to do using a screen.
Reviving Reading Culture Among Youth
The most touching part of the festival was seeing young people coming back to books after being lured away by digital media and social media platforms. Publishers were observing a worrying trend of new generations, and especially the youth, abandoning books in preference for the internet and social media consumption.
The rediscovery of the physical books came through book fairs, such as the Chinar Festival. Kids and adolescents who usually spend the whole day on mobile phones, games, or YouTube videos were observed to be reading books, making inquiries, and purchasing. This renewal of reading culture among the youth was particularly promising to the educators and parents who fear the reduction of the reading culture in the digital era.
A Celebration of Words and Knowledge
Organised by the National Book Trust of India in collaboration with Srinagar District Administration and NCPUL, the Chinar Book Festival 2025 was more than just a literary event – it was a true celebration of words, thoughts, and education. The festival united the most prominent publishers of the whole country, NGOs and local educational organisations, forming a lively space of cultural and intellectual exchange.
Readers enjoyed the access to books in all disciplines of study and interest – history, religion, sociology, philosophy, or current affairs. One of the passionate visitors said that books are loyal companions in human loneliness and play a major role in moral and spiritual growth. The festival was a great reminder that even in this age of the internet, where people are busier than ever with little time left to read and write books, there are still book lovers out there who ensure that our reading culture does not die out.
Future Literature Programs Advertising
The success of the Chinar Book Festival 2025 has already sparked conversations about holding similar events more frequently in Kashmir. Organisers indicated their desire to have smaller book fairs in the various districts so that literature is also available to even the rural and remote areas. The teachers and librarians who attended the event recommended that schools should engage in active collaboration with the publishing companies so as to promote a year-round reading culture among the students.
A number of education-related NGOs are also committed to gifting books bought at the festival to less fortunate children, and the festival-related joy of reading is likely to spread much further than the festival itself. This inclusiveness and outreach were an indication of how the festival was not only a week-long celebration of books but also the formation of long-term roots of a literary movement in the Valley.
Remembering a Cultural Moment
The lawns of SKICC were filled with the sounds of laughter of children, the turning of pages and the murmuring of thought-filled conversations as the nine days of literary festivity came to an end. The guests went back with suitcases of books as well as hearts filled with memories of exploration, discussion and innovation.
To a great number of people, it was not only an event but a cultural landmark that united the diversity of Kashmiri culture with the universalism of literature. The Chinar Book Festival 2025 left behind a powerful message – that books remain timeless bridges, connecting people across languages, faiths, and generations, nurturing both intellect and imagination.
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