By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 26: This year’s ‘Kitab Jatra’ of the Kitab Yatra Foundation will begin from January 30.
This was announced by the foundation at a press meet held in the capital on Sunday.
This year’s ‘Kitab Jatra’ will last for a week, till February 5, it said.
The Kitab Yatra Foundation has been organising the Kitab Jatra every year, and this year it will be the third edition.
The ‘Kitab Jatra’ aims to develop reading culture as an integral part of people's lives. The event consists of interactions between personalities from different walks of life.
“The book fair will be held this year through mass media and virtual media as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still there, said Rishi Ram Adhikari, chairman of the Foundation and festival director of the Nabil Kitab Jatra-2021.
The book festival is collaborated with AP One HD Television and Kitab Yatra.com's Kitab Yatra app.”
According to him, the book fair will be aired every day from 6 pm to 7 pm on January 30 and from 5 pm to 7 pm on the last day.
He said that one could get information about the books available in Nepal from KitabYatra.com and buy them at a discounted rate.
At the press meet, Anil Keshari Shah, Chief Executive Officer of Nabil Bank Limited, the title sponsor of 'Kitab Jatra', said that they did not remember the past, but took the ‘Kitab Jatra’ as a journey of future.
He argued that the power of the book was so important that it would be associated with the future. He said, “Our country is culturally rich, its main part are the innumerable Jatras. Other pilgrimages are associated with ancient myths, with religion and they connect us to the past. But the book journey is a journey to connect with the next generation.”
Tikaram Yatri, Editor-in-Chief of AP1 HD Television, the broadcast partner of ‘Nabil Kitab Jatra-2077’, said that the word 'Jatra' has to do with holiness, adding that the festival has tried to link knowledge with holiness.
He emphasised the need for updating and diversifying the medium of dissemination of knowledge. “Such discussions can be connected to a large number of viewers at once through television. With that in mind, we have partnered with Kitab Jatra this year,” he said.
Kala Anuragi, the festival coordinator, said that there would be seven sessions, special poetic performances, and other programmes.
Anuragi also informed that the ‘Prem Sahitya Samman’ award would be announced during the event.
Last year, litterateur Sarubhakta was honoured with a cash prize of Rs. 55,555.