A feast for bookworms in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: It is going to be a congregation of authors, readers and literary enthusiasts who like to slip into the world of stories and also witness a host of sessions that amuse them.

With the second edition of the Vizag Junior Literary Fest throwing its gates open to the story lovers this weekend, the beach-view Hawa Mahal is going to witness a beehive of activity as close to 20 renowned storytellers, authors, illustrators and poets are descending on the city from across the globe to engage the audience in a captivating manner for two days.

There are about 90 sessions laced with fun and entertainment to cater to diverse age groups. "We have made the fest bigger with 90 sessions this year wherein authors from different parts of the world are taking part. Some of them are award winners and have been part of various such events.

With puppetry as the theme, the idea is also to revive the state's tradition and culture through Tholu Bommalata and introduce children to the world of theatre and art forms that dates to a different era," says Priya Upplalapati, fest director.

Elaborating on the event, Sandhya Godey, another director of the fest, says, "The objective is to bring children back to real friends rather than the virtual ones, encourage them to read books, minimise their screen time and also nudge them to explore other areas of interest."

A book fair will be hosted by The Pages store, displaying about 2,000 different titles from various Indian authors, explains Sunil Nevatia of the bookstore. Four book launches also form a part of the event. "The platform also provides an opportunity for children to write.

This year, story-writing contest saw contestants from seven districts across Andhra Pradesh. A book 'Once Again Upon A Time' compiling the best stories authored by 14 top contestants will be launched during the inaugural," adds Sonal Sarda.

Singapore-based Roger Jenkins laid emphasis on the importance of stories in children's life. The fest inauguration will commence at 10:30 am at Hawa Mahal on Saturday and will continue till 7 pm. On Sunday, it will be held from 11 am to 7 pm.