Srinagar, August 10, 2025 – The second edition of the Chinar Book Festival 2025, held from August 2 to 10 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, concluded today, celebrating Kashmir’s literary culture and fostering a vibrant reading culture among youth and book enthusiasts. Organized by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, in collaboration with the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) and the Srinagar District Administration, the nine-day event highlighted the region’s rich literary heritage.Chief Guest Qazi Salman Ibrahim, in his closing address, praised the festival’s efforts to inspire Kashmiri youth and promote a love for reading. He described the event as a beacon for nurturing creativity and intellectual growth, emphasizing its role in connecting generations through literature.
Set against the scenic backdrop of Dal Lake and the Zabarwan hills, the festival featured over 200 publishers and bookstalls from across India, showcasing a diverse collection of titles in English, Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri, and other Indian languages. From bilingual children’s books to academic works, regional literature, and digital content, the event catered to readers of all ages. Highlights included the Rajtarangini Samvad, a series of workshops exploring the historical and cultural significance of the classical Kashmiri text, and the first-ever Gojri translation workshop, producing bilingual books to promote linguistic diversity.The festival was a vibrant celebration of Kashmir’s cultural ethos, featuring cultural evenings with Mushairas, Sham-e-Ghazal, Sufiyana Kalam, and performances by local artists, including folk music, Chakri, and Bhand Pather. The Khusro Foundation enriched the event with panel discussions on Sufism, religion and modernity, and gender advocacy in Urdu and Persian literature, alongside the release of five significant books, including “The Shade of Swords” by M.J. Akbar and “Raakh Mein Dabi Chingari” by Nasreen Hamza Ali.
Despite its success, the festival faced controversy when the Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted searches on August 7, targeting 25 books declared “forfeited” by the J&K Home Department for allegedly promoting secessionist ideologies. Authors and political figures, including Anuradha Bhasin and Mehbooba Mufti, criticized the move as an attack on free expression, sparking debates about censorship and intellectual freedom.Youth engagement was a key focus, with creative writing workshops, storytelling sessions, calligraphy demonstrations, and career guidance in literature, journalism, and performing arts. The Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya digital library zone provided free access to thousands of e-books, while a photo exhibition by the Indian Council of Historical Research on Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh captivated visitors. Over one lakh attendees, including students, scholars, and artists, participated, reflecting the event’s widespread appeal.
NBT Director Yuvraj Malik highlighted the festival’s mission to build a strong reading culture and foster dialogue through literature. Chief Convener Amit Wanchoo noted that the event reflected Kashmir’s spirit of learning and creativity, uniting communities through shared stories.The Chinar Book Festival 2025 celebrated Kashmir’s literary spirit and reinforced literature’s role in nurturing peace, resilience, and hope, inviting book lovers to continue exploring the fragrance of words under the timeless Chinars of Srinagar.
