Archive · 7 Jan 2026
Book Lovers March in Vijayawada Festival
On the fifth day of the 36th Vijayawada Book Festival, a big group of people including judges, writers, and students walked together in a march called a padayatra.
They started at Siddhartha Arts College and ended at IGMC Stadium.
The march was to show how important books are, even with all the new technology.
People held signs saying 'Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Books.'
A special government official and a former politician spoke at the end, saying books help spread knowledge and are important for future generations.
They also talked about how book festivals can encourage more people to read.
Additionally, a special meeting was held to honor a former Education Minister, and a book about his life was released.
The fifth day of the 36th Vijayawada Book Festival featured a walkathon by book lovers and a state-level centenary meeting commemorating former Education Minister Mandali Venkata Krishnarao.
The march started at Siddhartha Arts College and ended at IGMC Stadium, with participants including judges, editors, legislators, writers, artists, students, and prominent citizens.
The key message of the event was 'Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Books,' emphasizing the importance of books in spreading knowledge and encouraging reading habits.
Speakers such as RP Sisodia and Undavalli Arunkumar highlighted the eternal role of books as mediums of knowledge and the need to preserve them for future generations.
A book titled 'Diviseema Gandhi' on Mandali Venkata Krishnarao’s life was released by Sahitya Akademi awardee Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad.
- Who
- Book lovers, judges, editors, legislators, writers, artists, students, prominent citizens, RP Sisodia, Undavalli Arunkumar, K Srinivas, Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad
- What
- A walkathon (padayatra) and a state-level centenary meeting marking the culmination of the Padayatra commemorating former Education Minister Mandali Venkata Krishnarao
- When
- Fifth day of the 36th Vijayawada Book Festival
- Where
- Vijayawada, starting from Siddhartha Arts College and ending at IGMC Stadium
- Why
- To promote reading, the importance of books, and to commemorate Mandali Venkata Krishnarao
Traditionalists
Technological Advocates
Role of Books
Traditionalists
Books are eternal mediums of knowledge that must be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Technological Advocates
Books can evolve with technology, including AI-generated content, to adapt to modern reading habits.
- Event
- 36th Vijayawada Book Festival
- Day
- 5th
- Participants
- Judges, editors, legislators, writers, artists, students, prominent citizens
- Start Point
- Siddhartha Arts College
- End Point
- IGMC Stadium
- Key Message
- Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Books
- Organizers
- Vijayawada Book Festival
- Key Speakers
- RP Sisodia, Undavalli Arunkumar, K Srinivas, Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad
- Special Event
- Padayatra commemorating Mandali Venkata Krishnarao
- Book Released
- Diviseema Gandhi
