CM inaugurates Doon Book Festival 2026, organised by NBT at Parade Ground
Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 4 Apr: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Doon Book Festival- 2026 at Parade Ground here on Saturday. This 9-day book festival is being organised with the support of the Ministry of Education, Government of India through National Book Trust (NBT) and the Government of Uttarakhand, the festival has brought together publishers, writers, artists and literature enthusiasts from across the country. The festival is being described as a celebration of literature, culture and art. On the occasion, Dhami also visited stalls set up by various publishers and he also released Garhwali and Kumaoni books, underlining the importance of regional languages in enriching India’s literary heritage.
Addressing the gathering following the inauguration of the book festival, Dhami described the festival as a remarkable confluence of literature, culture and art, which would provide society with new directions for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. He said that through sessions, dialogues, book discussions and “Meet the Author” programmes, literary discourse would be strengthened. He particularly praised the establishment of a “Children’s Pavilion”, noting that it would help nurture reading habits among the younger generation.
Dhami also reminded the gathering of Uttarakhand’s rich literary tradition and he pointed out that the Devbhoomi has produced many eminent writers and has always been a centre of knowledge, culture and creativity. He emphasised that the state government is committed to preserving and promoting literature and culture, citing initiatives such as the “Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman” and “Sahitya Bhushan” awards, as well as grants for publications in different languages. He added that literary villages are being established to provide writers with a conducive environment for creativity and to develop Uttarakhand as a hub of literary tourism.
The CM spoke about the enduring importance of books, and claimed that the books are not merely collections of words but permanent sources of knowledge that guide society across the generations. He appealed to citizens to encourage the gifting of books and plants on various occasions, thereby fostering awareness of both knowledge and the environment.
Dhami remarked that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is moving forward in reinstating its cultural and literary heritage. He reiterated that the Uttarakhand government is equally committed to safeguarding and promoting the state’s literary legacy. He extended his best wishes to the organisers for the successful conduct of the festival and expressed confidence that the event would infuse new energy into the literary consciousness of the state.
Among those present at the inaugural ceremony included Cabinet Minister Khajan Das, Mayor of Dehradun Saurabh Thapliyal, Acharya Balkrishna of Patanjali Ayurveda, National Book Trust Chairman Professor Milind Marathi, National Book Trust Director Yuvraj Malik, and Devbhoomi Uttarakhand University Vice President Aman Bansal.
