Vizag Junior Literary Fest off to an enthusiastic start

The fifth edition of the Vizag Junior Literary Festival kicked off on Saturday at Hawa Mahal, with Member of Parliament M Sribharat inaugurating the event amidst an eager audience of children, parents, authors, and storytellers. This two-day festival, a celebrated event in the city, seeks to promote literary culture among young minds with an impressive lineup of over 80 sessions, including creative writing workshops, storytelling performances, theatre presentations, illustrator workshops, and book signings by renowned authors.
Addressing the audience during the inauguration, MP Sribharat shared a personal anecdote about his journey with books. “My love for reading began when I was 12, with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. That book sparked a lifelong love for stories, opening doors to new worlds, keeping me company in solitude, and significantly improving my communication and language skills,” he said.
He further encouraged parents and children to make reading a daily priority. “Books foster imagination, improve focus, and provide an excellent avenue for quality parent-child interaction, all while helping reduce overexposure to screens,” he noted, stressing the transformative power of books in shaping young minds.
The festival brings together celebrated storytellers, authors, and illustrators from across India to inspire creativity and nurture the next generation of readers and writers in Visakhapatnam. Organizers aim to create an environment where young literary enthusiasts can explore and grow through interactive and engaging sessions.
MP Sribharat congratulated the festival organizers for their unwavering commitment to making literature accessible and enjoyable for young audiences. Taking a moment to interact with the children and authors present, he encouraged them to immerse themselves in the rich world of stories and cultivate a lifelong reading habit. The Vizag Junior Literary Festival continues tomorrow with a range of exciting activities and promises to leave a lasting impact on Visakhapatnam’s young readers and aspiring storytellers.