Where Stories Breathe: The Odisha State Book Festival 2025
Spread across ten lively acres at the IDCO Exhibition Ground from December 6 to 17, the festival has transformed the city into a living, breathing world of books, culture, and conversation.
The winter sun glows softly over Bhubaneswar as the scent of fresh ink mingles with the sweetness of Chhena Poda, signalling the arrival of the seventh Odisha State Book Festival. Spread across ten lively acres at the IDCO Exhibition Ground from December 6 to 17, the festival has transformed the city into a living, breathing world of books, culture, and conversation.
This year’s edition is the grandest yet, with more than 550 stalls and over 250 publishers filling the fair with literary treasures. Six international publishers have joined the celebration for the first time, bringing European classics, world philosophy, and global literature to Odia readers. Sustainability is at the heart of the event, with recycled paper décor, digital catalogues, zero-plastic brochures, and QR-code maps that make navigation both modern and eco-friendly. A dedicated Braille Pavilion welcomes visually-impaired readers, adding a spirit of inclusivity to the experience.
The festival’s layout pays homage to Odisha’s cultural icons. The main entrance honours freedom fighter Maa Ramadevi, the inner gate celebrates the spiritual legacy of saint-poet Bhima Bhoi, and the central stage carries the name of Jnanpith awardee Ramakanta Rath. Two thoughtfully curated pavilions spotlight Odisha’s women freedom fighters and mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, while the Baraputras Pavilion displays precious manuscripts of Fakir Mohan Senapati, Gangadhar Meher, and Radhanath Ray.
Every corner of the fair buzzes with creative energy. Authors meet their readers in daily interactions, poetry lovers gather under warm lights for verse-filled evenings, and the graceful movements of Odissi dancers add a classical charm to the atmosphere. Children drift into worlds of imagination through lively storytelling sessions, their laughter weaving into the festival’s rhythm.
Food adds its own flavourful chapter to the event. The Slurp Zone serves Pakhala, Chhena Poda, Bara-Ghuguni, momos, and refreshing juices, drawing visitors between books with irresistible aromas. The Coffee Corner has already become the favourite adda of readers and writers, while selfie points scattered across the grounds ensure that memories are captured as beautifully as they are made.
Among the bestsellers this year are The Sun Temple of Konark by Adyasha Das, Olatpur by Biraja Routray, A Jar of Pebbles by Krishna Mohan Tata, and Ali Itihasa by Golak Bihari Singh. Children’s books, motivational titles, and spiritual literature are also attracting enthusiastic crowds.
With free entry for all, the fair welcomes visitors from 2 PM to 10 PM daily and from 10 AM on weekends. Highlights include Fakir Mohan Literature Day on December 10, a colourful Children’s Day carnival on December 15, and a grand closing ceremony with fireworks on December 17.
More than just a literary event, the Odisha State Book Festival is a celebration of community and imagination. Here, grandparents revisit the stories of their youth, teenagers chase new fantasy worlds, children discover the magic of reading, and strangers become friends over coffee and Odia poetry. In this vibrant space, stories are not just read, they are lived.
