Members of the Vijayawada Book Festival Society releasing a poster for the 35th annual book festival, in Vijayawada on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI

The 35th Vijayawada Book Festival is all set to begin at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium on January 2.

Addressing the media here on Wednesday, the Vijayawada Book Festival Society members said Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan would inaugurate the annual festival. More than 230 publishers and literary organisations would take part in the 11-day festival, ending on January 12. In addition to them, around 50 government stalls would be set up providing information about their departments.

Sahitya Akademi and the society member M. Vijay Kumar said literature played a major role in social consciousness. Despite the rising popularity and use of electronic mediums in education, the role of books had not diminished, he said, adding that the role of books cannot be replaced by any other medium.

The members, urging the public to make it a success, said all arrangements were being made to provide a good experience to visitors. Many programmes would be held during the 11-day festival, they added.