Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is set to inaugurate the 45th Chennai Book Fair at YMCA grounds in Nandanam organised by the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) on Wednesday.
The 19-day event will start with the Chief Minister inaugurating the book fair and presenting the 'Kalaignar Karunanidhi Porkizhi Virudhugal' literary award to Tamil writers and scholars from 5 PM on Wednesday.
According to The Indian Express, BAPASI president S Vairavan said, totally there are 800 stalls and the entrances have been named after Ki Ra (Tamil writer Ki Rajayanarayanan) and Tho Paramasivan (Writer and Former Professor).
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The main gate was designed like Arignar Anna Memorial Library, he said. Like last year, BAPASI is also focused on implementing all the standard operating procedures.
Till now, BAPASI has sold 40,000 online tickets for the book fair and the entry ticket has been priced at Rs 10.
The Health Minister Ma Subramanian will also inaugurate the statues of freedom fights including Mahatma Gandhi, Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar and VO Chidambaram Pillai in the arena.
Meanwhile, the archaeological department has planned to exhibit ancient artifacts at the fair. The book fair will have food stalls to be put up by food partner 'Arusuvai Arasi'.
The book fair will remain open on all days between February 16 and March 6 from 11 am to 8 pm. The fair will also take place on February 19, the day of local body elections and February 22, the counting day.