Dehradun: For the first time in the capital Dehradun, the Doon Book Festival-2026 has been organized by the National Book Trust. This festival, being held from April 4 to April 12 at Parade Ground, Dehradun, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also visited the book stalls set up by various publishers.
Under the National Education Policy, the National Book Trust has published 26 books in Kumaoni and Garhwali languages. These books were also released by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
In this program organized with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, Government of India and the Uttarakhand Government, the Chief Minister welcomed writers, artists, and literature lovers from across the country. He said that this festival is a wonderful confluence of literature, culture, and art, which will give a new direction to the exchange of knowledge and ideas in society.
The Chief Minister said that in this 9-day festival, literary discussions will be enriched through various sessions, dialogue programs, book discussions, and events like “Meet the Author.”
He especially appreciated the Children’s Pavilion established for children and said that it will help develop reading interest among the new generation. Referring to the rich literary tradition of Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister said that this sacred land of Devbhoomi has given birth to many great writers and has always been a center of knowledge, culture, and creativity.
Chief Minister Dhami said that the state government is continuously making efforts for the preservation and promotion of literature and culture. Writers are being honored through Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman, Sahitya Bhushan, and other awards. At the same time, grants are also being provided for publication of books in various languages.
He said that literary villages are also being established in the state so that writers can get a favorable environment for creation and Uttarakhand can be developed as a major center of literary tourism.
Highlighting the importance of books in his address, the Chief Minister said that books are not just a collection of words but a permanent source of knowledge that guides society from generation to generation. He appealed to all citizens to promote books and plants as gifts on various occasions so that awareness towards both knowledge and environment can increase in society.
