The nine-day Lucknow Book Fair began on Saturday at the Ravindralaya grounds, with an enthusiastic crowd of book enthusiasts arriving early to examine the exhibits.

The book fair, as in previous years, includes both foreign and regional language books, as well as a substantial portion of fiction and nonfiction.

Students especially benefit from this book fair since they not only acquire books for tough exams, but they can also buy used books at a discount. At the book expo, all books are offered  at discounts starting at 10%.

"Every year, we come on the first day to check out the discounts and then return after comparing them at our regular bookstores," said Anamika Chauhan, a college student attending the book fair with a group of friends.

"The advantage of this annual fair is that it lasts more than a week. We don't have to worry about missing it," she explained. At the festival, some students and children were seen holding their parents' arms.

While the rain in the afternoon was a little inconvenience, by the time the sun set, the throng at 
the arena had begun to grow again. However, the book fair location was not damaged by rain, as organiser Manoj Chandel stated that after last year's experience, they put in a 10,000 square foot waterproof pandal to keep the books and venue dry.

Following the shower, the event featured a series of stage performances, including a poetry recital, a book launch and debate, and a bhajan performance to conclude the day.