Lucknow: In an age when screens compete for every spare minute, the city of Nawabs appears to be turning the page—literally. The fifth Gomti Book Festival drew around 4.5 lakh visitors and recorded book sales worth Rs 2.75 crore during its nine-day run at Lucknow University, offering a reminder that the printed word continues to find an audience in the digital age.More than 250 stalls featuring books across genres were set up at the festival, attracting readers of all age groups. The response was higher than last year, when the fourth edition recorded an estimated footfall of around 3.5 lakh visitors.National Book Trust officials said the sales reflected diverse reading preferences, with children’s books, Hindi literature, fiction, books on India and nation-building, self-help and educational titles drawing considerable interest. The trust’s stall alone recorded sales of Rs 7.5 lakh.“The footfall and sales demonstrated that readers remain keen to buy and read books when a wide range of titles is available under one roof,” said Santosh, a National Book Trust official.Among the titles that attracted attention were Exam Warriors, The Mother of Democracy and Chandrayaan. The festival also introduced visitors to the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, which offers access to thousands of digital titles.Beyond books, the festival hosted more than 75 literary, cultural and children’s programmes involving over 240 speakers and artists. More than 15,000 children participated in the activities.
