Five days of stories, learning and fun in Panaji

With lively exchanges and enthusiastic browsing throughout its run, the five-day Goa Book Festival transformed the Bandodkar Ground in Panaji into a vibrant hub for book lovers, bringing together schoolchildren, avid readers, authors and publishers from across the country before concluding on Sunday.

With over 250 book stalls, readers browsed titles in Hindi, English, Konkani and Marathi, as the aisles buzzed with discussions, recommendations and new discoveries.

New mother Sakshi Kamat, who visited the festival with her one-year-old daughter, said, “We found some really interesting children’s books. Many of them have stories that will help me keep my daughter away from screens.”

Teachers and students from several schools were also a strong presence. “Book fairs allow teachers to buy books for students to read in school libraries. We can also update our libraries, and students get the added benefit of purchasing books at discounted rates,” said a teacher from North Goa.

In addition to book stalls, the festival featured cultural and educational programmes. Sessions of Sachin Pilgaonkar and Mrunal Kulkarni, along with Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, drew crowds, while workshops on storytelling and cartoon art kept young participants engaged.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”