Srinagar, July 16,2026- Ahead of the much-awaited 3rd Chinar Book Festival 2026, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo on Thursday flagged off the Chinar Book Festival Shikara Rally on the iconic Dal Lake, marking the official commencement of promotional activities for the literary extravaganza.
The colourful rally, featuring traditionally decorated shikaras carrying festival banners and promotional material, sailed across the picturesque Dal Lake to create awareness about the upcoming book festival. The initiative blended Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage with the spirit of literature, inviting residents, students, tourists, and book lovers to participate in the nine-day event.
The 3rd Chinar Book Festival, organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the Ministry of Education, will be held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar, from July 18 to July 26. The festival is expected to feature more than 200 publishers from across the country, showcasing thousands of books in multiple languages, including English, Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, and Dogri.
The festival will also host a wide range of literary and cultural activities, including author interactions, book launches, panel discussions, storytelling sessions, poetry recitals, workshops, children’s programmes, and cultural performances. These events aim to encourage reading habits, promote literary engagement, and provide a platform for dialogue between readers, writers, publishers, and scholars.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, officials said the Shikara Rally reflects Srinagar’s unique cultural identity while promoting one of the region’s premier literary events. The rally attracted attention from locals and visitors along the banks of Dal Lake, generating excitement ahead of the festival.
The Chinar Book Festival has become an important annual event in Jammu and Kashmir, celebrating literature, education, and cultural diversity while strengthening the reading culture among people of all age groups. The festival is expected to draw thousands of visitors from across the Union Territory and other parts of the country.
