Lucknow: The Gomti Book Festival has truly become a literary and cultural landmark in Lucknow, with University of Lucknow’s sprawling grounds buzzing with readers, authors, artists, and families from across Uttar Pradesh. With lakhs of visitors at the venue, over 200 stalls featuring India’s leading publishers, and a dynamic line-up of literary sessions, cultural performances and children’s activities, the festival has transformed the city into a celebration of words, ideas and imagination. From morning till evening, the University of Lucknow campus resonates with the energy of book launches, storytelling sessions, mushairas, kathak recitals and live music, creating a unique blend of tradition and innovation that reflects the spirit of Uttar Pradesh.
The festival aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of building a knowledge society and advancing the mission of “Make India Read” and reflects the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises foundational literacy, multilingualism, creativity, critical thinking and digital integration in learning. It also resonates with the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh’s vision for Viksit Uttar Pradesh @2047, by nurturing a culture of knowledge, innovation, and inclusivity that will shape the state’s journey towards holistic progress.
On Day 7, the excitement at the Children’s Corner began with more than 600 children from different schools of Lucknow city participating in the three morning sessions. The day began with musical drawing game ‘Round the Riddle’, which is quickly becoming a favourite among school children. After the fun exercise, the best-performing children were awarded books published by NBT, India.
The second session, ‘Come, Let’s Listen to a Story,’ by renowned storyteller Storywali Jaishree Sethi added a new spin to the age-old tradition of storytelling by using puppets. In the third and final session, Farma and Muskan conducted an entertaining theatre workshop, which encouraged creativity and expression among the children as the day concluded with refreshments and cheerful laughter.
A Tasteful Discussion in Lekhakganj
Sadaf Hussain, the author of the book ‘Masala Mandi’, a book that celebrates the essence of Indian cooking through its spices, had a conversation with Pallavi Vinod about his travels across the country to deeply understand and identify spices. The author enthusiastically addressed everyone’s curiosity and also shared how he learned the ‘master recipe’ of cooking from his own home. Both the guests were welcomed by Dr. Lalit Kishore Mandora and presented shawls along with books.
In another session, the session Picture Words: The Rise of Graphic Narratives at the Gomti Book Festival 2025 brought together leading voices in the field like Soumitra Dasgupta, Uttam Pal Singh and Ishita Debnath Biswas. The panel explored the growing impact of graphic storytelling as a medium that blends art and literature to engage readers across ages, from comics to illustrated books.
Urdu Lovers Unite in City of Nawabs
The afternoon got a soulful spin with a Mushaira, organised in collaboration with the Urdu Department of Lucknow University that brought together celebrated poets like Dr. Asmat Malihabadi, Farooq Jaisi, Rashmi Badshah, Dr. Omair Manzar, Rubina Ayaz and Ved Prakash Sanjar. The session was gracefully moderated by Prof. Abbas Raza Nayyar, who contextualised the verses and highlighted the enduring power of Urdu poetry in Lucknow. Celebrating the richness of Urdu, the magic of shayari created an atmosphere of laughter and reflection for the audience. The enthusiastic participation of readers who love both Hindi and Urdu at the Mushaira clearly demonstrated their fundamental dedication to poetic tradition and books.
Kathak and Live Music
In the evening, Birju Maharaj Kathak Sansthan (BMAKS) presented a captivating array of classical performances. The program began with a traditional Vocal Invocation to Lord Ganesha in Raag Lalit, followed by a dynamic Tabla Presentation featuring Paramparagat and rhythmic compositions. The highlight was the elegant Kathak Dance segment, which included a heartfelt tribute to the Mother Goddess, culminating in a Sargam performance set to the composition “Shivoham.”
Next came Sadho Band, a dynamic live music collective from Delhi, acclaimed for their soul-stirring performances that blend Sufi, devotional bhajans, Bollywood hits and folk fusion. Their performance bridged traditional sounds with a modern sensibility, creating a deep and spiritual ambiance on Day 7 of the Gomti Book Festival.
