CHENNAI: The crowd at the Chennai Book Fair has begun to pick up on the first weekend since it began, much to the relief of organisers and publishers who set up stalls at the YMCA Grounds in Nandanam.
Conducting the fair in late February was considered a gamble since it’s usually held during the Pongal holidays in January, which helps draw more visitors.
However, members of the BookSellers’ and Publishers’ Association of South India (BAPASI), which is organising the fair, said the risk is starting to pay off.
“We are overwhelmed by the response on Saturday. It has equalled the footfall we got on weekends in previous years. Only tomorrow (Sunday) we will get the full picture,” said G Olivannan, of Emerald Publishing and the vice president of BAPASI.