Kannada book fair to add literary flavour to Dasara

A Kannada book fair featuring discounted sales will be held from October 11 to 20 as part of the Mysuru Dasara-2026 festivities at the Bharat Scouts and Guides grounds here.

Karnataka Book Authority president Manasa said Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi would inaugurate the fair. Around 70 publishers are expected to participate, with 90 stalls being set up.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday (October 6), she said new books would be released every morning, while cultural programmes, including ‘Selfie with Sahiti’, would be held in the evenings.

As part of the fair, 12 books published by the Karnataka Book Authority would be released on October 12. The programmes on subsequent days include ‘Bhavageethegalu’ by Amma Ramachandra on October 13; ‘Reading My Favourite Book’ by students of Yuvaraja College on October 14; folk songs by Sabbanahalli Raju and troupe on October 15; and a poetry meet, ‘Kuncha-Kavya Gayana’ and other programmes organised by the Karnataka Sahitya Academy, Karnataka Lalitakala Academy and KSN Trust on October 16.

Students of Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music University will present stage songs on October 17. A performance of Kanaka Keerthanas and Tatpadas by a team from Chamarajanagar will be held on October 18, followed by a Devi Mahatme Moodalapaya Yakshagana presentation by A.N. Thimmaiah of Tumakuru on October 19.

As in previous years, a book chariot will be used to publicise the fair. The venue for the cultural programmes has been named Rashtrakavi G.S. Shivarudrappa Cultural Stage.

Entrance gates named after noted novelist C.N. Muktha and former Mysuru district Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Maddikere Gopal, both of whom passed away recently, will also be erected at the venue.

A new initiative, ‘Recite a Poem, Get a Plant’, will be organised every day. Interested poets can recite their poems and receive a sapling.

The poster for the Dasara book fair was released during the press conference.