‘Porunai Book Fair 2025’ off to colourful start; books on sale in 124 stalls

Collector K. P. Karthikeyan and writer Vannadasan looking at the books on display after the inauguration of Porunai Book Fair 2025 on Friday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

With folk artistes performing a range of cultural events, the much-awaited 11-day ‘Porunai Book Fair 2025’ got off to a colourful start here on Friday.

Writer Vannadasan inaugurated the book fair at Tirunelveli Trade Centre in the presence of District Collector K. P. Karthikeyan, Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University N. Chandrasekar, District Revenue Officer M. Suganya, Sub- Collector, Cheranmahadevi, Arpit Jain, MLAs M. Abdul Wahab and Ruby R. Manoharan, Mayor of Tirunelveli Corporation G. Ramakrishnan and Deputy Mayor K. R. Raju.

Presiding over the function, Dr. Karthikeyan said the highlight of the ‘Porunai Book Fair 2025’ is the release of ‘Nellai Seemaiyin Oru Noottraandu Kavithaigal, Katturaigal’ compilation of stories penned by school students (‘Kathai Solla Porom’) and teachers (‘Ungaludan Ainthu Nimidam’), who are in-charge of ‘Anbaadum Mundril’ programme which was introduced in the schools for promoting harmony among school children.

Since this region is known for its contribution for ancient civilization, freedom struggle, literature, culture etc., the book fair would highlight these features. After playing major role in the ancient era, the district’s contributions in science and technology were also immense as the liquid propulsions being synthesised at Indian Space Research Organisation’s facility at Mahendragiri were being used for powering the rockets.

The wind energy being generated by the windmills of the district had taken Tirunelveli to the top position in the State for generating green power. India’s largest photovoltaic cells and modules for solar power generating units had come-up at Gangaikondan on Tirunelveli outskirts to give employment to over 2,000 persons including 1,200 women from this region.

“Since Tirunelveli has contributed to ancient civilisation and also for the development of science and technology, all these aspects have been exhibited in the fair in the forms of books, models and artefacts so that the visitors can understand the importance of the district,” Dr. Karthikeyan said.

Debates, concerts, poetry sessions and lectures by writers will be conducted everyday at Tirunelveli Trade Centre from 7.30 p.m. onwards as part of the book fair. Cultural competitions for the students, training sessions by rural artisans, sculpture sessions for differently-abled by artist Chandru, workshops for budding journalists etc. will also be conducted. The readers can interact with the writers during the sessions to be organised this year.

As the ‘Porunai Vaasagar Vattam’ (Porunai Reaers’ Circle) has been established in every college in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari districts to nurture the literary skills of the students by conducting competitions, these students are the ‘Master of Ceremonies’ for all the events to be held during the ‘Porunai Festival 2025’.

Gift vouchers worth about ₹15 lakh are given to students for buying books in the book fair, in which the drawings of students from the four southern districts and exhibits from INS Kattabomman, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project and Indian Space Research Organisation’s Propulsion Research Centre, artefacts, natural farm products, artificial intelligence products etc. have been displayed.

Publishers have displayed their books in 124 stalls in the fair which also offer traditional sweets and savouries to the visitors. A stall has been dedicated for training the students on making handicrafts and women self-help groups have put-up their stalls for selling their products.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tirunelveli Range, Pa. Moorthy presided over the function held in the evening.