Gorakhpur: The Gorakhpur Book Festival 2025, organized by the National Book Trust, India at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, continues to attract an ever-growing crowd of book lovers, students, and families. As the festival entered its seventh day, the campus buzzed with enthusiasm as hundreds of students from various schools, colleges, and the university explored the book stalls, clicked selfies, and participated in a range of engaging activities. The day offered a perfect blend of creativity and rhythm — from morning art and puppetry sessions to an electrifying evening of rock and Bollywood music.
The morning began at the Bal Mandap (Children’s Pavilion) with a delightful puppet show presented by the Creative Puppet Theatre Trust. The performance, depicting the inspiring life and contributions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, captivated the young audience. Students also had the chance to learn the art of finger puppetry, crafting miniature puppets under expert guidance.
Next came an interactive workshop titled “Rait Sang Kalakari” (Art with Sand), conducted by Rupesh Kumar, where participants created intricate sand art pieces in teams, showcasing their imagination and teamwork.
In another engaging session, Bhaskar Indrakanti led an inspiring discussion on “The Art of Asking Questions”, emphasizing why curiosity and inquiry are key to learning. Encouraged by the interactive format, many students confidently posed thoughtful questions by the end of the session.
The day’s activities at the children’s section concluded with an orientation session by Satish Yadav on the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya (National e-Library). Students were introduced to this digital platform and its wide range of resources. With the e-library’s mascot “Cheetah” on stage, the young learners enthusiastically pledged to become true “Learning Cheetahs” — fast, curious, and ever eager to learn. More than 2,500 students from over 35 schools participated in the day’s children’s programs.
As the sun set, the festival grounds transformed into a lively hub of music and celebration. The evening cultural segment featured a live rock concert at the Carnish stage, where soft Bollywood and rock fusion music set the perfect tone for the night. The rhythmic beats and soulful performances had the audience swaying and singing along, bringing the seventh day of the Gorakhpur Book Festival to a vibrant and musical close.
