Bookaroo Festival in Srinagar Brings Books to Life
Around 5,000 visitors gathered at DPS Srinagar as the Bookaroo festival brought stories, art, and imagination to life.
Imagine stepping into a bustling world where books spring right off their paper pages and turn into lively adventures. On 1 November 2026, the cheerful Bookaroo festival in Srinagar opened its doors to celebrate the pure joy of reading and art. The colourful day-long event welcomed around 5,000 children, parents, and educators to the Delhi Public School (DPS) Srinagar campus located in Athwajan.
Eager young readers journeyed from across the Kashmir Valley to join the grand celebration. Children travelled from many different districts, including Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Baramulla, and Ganderbal. Under the exciting theme “Where Books Come Alive,” the festival presented special activities curated for children aged 4 to 14 years.
What happened?
This vibrant gathering marked the eighth Srinagar edition and the 55th edition overall of the Bookaroo Festival of Children’s Literature. The special event was organised by the Bookaroo Trust in collaboration with the D.P. Dhar Memorial Trust. It also received helpful support from Encash Mahindra and Amandeep Ujala Hospital to welcome young book lovers.
The festival brought together 11 prominent authors, illustrators, and storytellers who travelled from eight different cities across India. Together, they conducted a packed programme of 21 interactive sessions. These sessions covered an amazing variety of topics, including talking animals, nature, wild adventures, history, creative art, and environmental awareness.
Young participants got their hands busy with several creative workshops. In a workshop called “Birds That Don’t Exist, Yet,” children invented colourful feathered friends straight from their imaginations. Other lively sessions included “Nothing Is as It Seems,” “The Magical Mangroves,” and action-packed live doodling corners where pencils flew across paper.
Many wonderful guests guided the young creators throughout the day. Acclaimed storyteller Jeeva Raghunath spellbound listeners with spoken tales, while artist Roshni Vyam shared brilliant visual techniques. In another fascinating room, author Likla Lall introduced curious children to the stunning paintings of renowned artist Ganesh Haloi.
Both Bookaroo co-founder Swati Roy and DPS Srinagar Principal Shafaq Afshan highlighted the important mission of the festival. They explained that reading should always be a joyful, creative adventure that takes you far beyond traditional classrooms, exam desks, and standard school textbooks.
Why does it matter to you?
When you sit in school, reading can sometimes feel like work meant only for tests, memorising answers, and finishing homework. Festivals like Bookaroo show that books are actually magical doorways leading directly to thrilling adventures, vibrant art, and unlimited imagination. Reading can be a hobby that makes you laugh, wonder, and explore the universe on your own terms.
Meeting real writers, painters, and storytellers in person shows you that every book begins as a tiny spark in someone’s mind. When you try hands-on crafts, hear dramatic stories, or doodle brand-new creatures, you discover your own creative voice. You quickly realise that you do not just have to read stories created by others; you can write, paint, and share your very own tales too.
Words to know
- Illustrator: an artist who draws, paints, or sketches pictures for stories and books.
- Curated: carefully selected, organised, and planned out for a specific audience.
- Interactive: an activity or game where people talk, participate, and work together actively.
- Mangroves: special coastal trees and shrubs that grow in muddy, salty water and shelter wildlife.
Did you know?
Did you know that this celebration in Srinagar was the 55th edition of the Bookaroo festival overall? Bookaroo has travelled to many cities across India, setting up tents, workshops, and storytelling circles to bring books alive for thousands of children.
Think about it
If you were invited to design an imaginary animal for the “Birds That Don’t Exist, Yet” workshop, what strange colours, sounds, or powers would your creature have? Which author or artist would you like to invite to your school for a storytelling session?
Quick quiz
Where was the eighth Srinagar edition of the Bookaroo festival hosted?
- Delhi Public School Srinagar
- University of Kashmir
- Tagore Hall Srinagar
See the answer
Delhi Public School Srinagar
Sources
- greaterkashmir.com
- risingkashmir.com
- festivalsfromindia.com
- kashmirlife.net
- kashmirreader.com
- kashmirlife.net
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
