SRINAGAR: The eighth edition of the DPS Srinagar Book Festival brought together around 5,000 children, parents, teachers and literary enthusiasts at Delhi Public School, Athwajan, on Sunday, turning the campus into a lively space for storytelling, art, imagination and creative learning.
The festival attracted young participants from across the Valley, including Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Baramulla and Ganderbal. Children aged between four and 14 took part in a programme featuring 21 sessions led by 11 speakers from eight cities across India.
Held under the theme Where Books Come Alive, the day-long event offered children an opportunity to experience literature beyond conventional reading, with sessions involving storytelling, illustration, music, drama, art and interactive learning.
The festival was organised through a collaboration between Bookaroo – Festival of Children’s Literature and the DP Dhar Memorial Trust. It was supported by Encash Mahindra and Amandeep Ujala Hospital, Bemina.
Authors, storytellers, illustrators and artists engaged children through imaginative sessions and hands-on activities. The programme explored subjects ranging from talking animals and magical mangroves to mountains, nature, history and environmental awareness, encouraging children to ask questions, explore ideas and express themselves creatively.
Swati Roy, Co-founder of Bookaroo, said the festival sought to make reading an experience children look forward to rather than something associated only with classrooms and textbooks.
“The enthusiasm we witnessed in Srinagar, particularly the participation of children from different districts, reflects the power of stories to bring young minds together. We hope every child who attended today leaves with a new story, a new idea and, most importantly, a greater love for books,” she said.
Shafaq Afshan, Principal of DPS Srinagar, said the participation of nearly 5,000 children, parents and educators reflected the importance of creating opportunities for learning beyond the classroom.
“At DPS Srinagar, we believe that education is about nurturing imagination, encouraging independent thinking and helping children discover their individual strengths. Bookaroo provides exactly this kind of enriching environment, where children learn through stories, creativity and meaningful interactions,” she said.
Authors and artists who travelled to Srinagar for the festival also praised the enthusiasm of the young participants.
Roshni Vyam, an author and artist attending Bookaroo in Srinagar for the first time, described the experience as memorable, recalling the warmth with which children received her session. She said the interaction with students had been particularly rewarding and expressed the hope of continuing her association with the festival.
Likla Lall, author of Ganesh Haloi: Colours of Home, introduced children to the works of artist Ganesh Haloi. She described the participants as curious and creative, and appreciated the involvement of teachers and student volunteers.
For participating students, the festival offered an opportunity to meet authors, discover new books and interact with children from other schools. A student from The Life School, Charishrief, said the stories and activities had made learning enjoyable and opened up new possibilities through books.
Parents also welcomed the initiative, saying it provided children with an engaging alternative to screen-based entertainment and encouraged reading, imagination and creative expression.
Beyond the scheduled sessions, the DPS Srinagar campus hosted dedicated creative spaces, a doodle wall, a bookshop and an author-signing area. A PETA Point introduced children to kindness and compassion towards animals through interactive activities.
The participation of schools from several districts also brought together children from diverse backgrounds, allowing them to share experiences and develop a common interest in books and learning.
The eighth Srinagar edition of Bookaroo highlighted the role of literary festivals in encouraging children to read, think independently and develop a lasting relationship with books.
