Bhubaneswar, Dec 7: The sixth 'Odisha Rajya Pustak Mahotsav' (Odisha State Book Fair) was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar on Friday. The book fair, being organized by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, will continue till December 17.

Bhubaneswar Ekamara MLA Babu Singh, Pipili MLA Ashrit Patnaik, Balasore MLA Manas Kumar Datta, Khandapada MLA Dusmanta Kumar Swain, noted litterateur Santanu Acharya and Mumbai Odia Mahasanga president Dr Bipin Mishra graced as guests.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Singh urged the youth to read books and get real knowledge about society.

Atibadadi Jagannath Das Award winner and noted litterateur Santanu Acharya discussed the need and importance of reading books. He said books are a measuring rod of a developed society and a civilization.

Books like 'Shriman Bhagabat' written by Atibadi Jagannath Das, 'Bibartanare Odia Bhasha' by Dr. Harihar Kanungo, 'Odia Loka Sahitya and Sanskruti' by Dr. Arabinda Patnaik, and 'A Biography on Gurucharan Patnaik' by Bijay Kumar Padhihari were released.
As many as 400 stalls are selling books. About 200 publishers have participated in the book fair.

Three theme pavilions have been created based on the lives of Utkal Keshari Harekrushna Mahatab, Buddha Memorial in Odisha, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and other freedom fighters.

While the main entry gate has been named after Dr Harekrushna Mahatab, the main stage has been named after Satakadi Hota. The inner gate and the inner stage have been named after Poet Harihar Mishra and litterateur Satyanarayan Bahidar.

Photographs of legendary litterateurs have been put up at different places on the fairground.

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