Some days at the Chinar Book Festival feel like stepping into a living poem — and Day 8 was exactly that. Held at the SKICC grounds, the event was a vibrant tapestry of art, literature, innovation, and soulful performances that captivated attendees from morning till late evening.
The Children's Corner was buzzing with creativity and curiosity. The day opened with Mandala Art Fun, where children brought intricate patterns to life with colour and care. Letterland Adventures with Muskan Gupta revived the charm of handwritten communication through postcards and stamps. Vivek Kumar’s Fun with Vedic Maths turned math into a playground, teaching children clever mental tricks with numbers.
In the Authors' Corner, the session Performing Arts: A Canvas of Expression brought together celebrated artists Vibha Saraf, Bhupali Tamboli, Tasia Bhat, and Pandit Brij Nath Betab, moderated by RJ Rafia. They shared insights on how music, poetry, and the performing arts preserve stories and culture.
The session Doctors Beyond Medicine: Heart is the Centre of Art, moderated by journalist Nazir Ganaie, featured Dr. Suresh Kaul, Dr. Amit Wanchoo, and Dr. Nasir Shamas. They discussed how art and culture nourish the soul alongside the body, sharing personal stories that added warmth and depth.
Entrepreneurship took centre stage in From Startup to Scale-up: Building Sustainable Businesses. Moderated by Dr. Touseef Ahmed, panelists Vivek Raina, Suneel Wattal, Muheet Mehraj, Dr. Asma Wali, and Arjimand Hussain Wani discussed how innovation and integration are crucial for sustainable business and echoed the vision of NEP 2020 to equip youth with real-world skills.
Two important book releases took place: Heart: A Fistful of Life by Dr. Suresh Kaul and The Spring Far Away by Ashok Batwari. Eminent poet Zareef Ahmad Zareef released the books and reflected on literature’s role in preserving collective memory.
As evening descended, the Cultural Stage came alive with a soulful Mushaira, where noted poets like Mohd. Manshah Khakhi, Dr. Syedah Nikhat Nazar, Dr. Satish Vimal, and others moved the audience with poetry rich in nostalgia, social insight, and lyrical beauty.
This was followed by a vibrant folk play by the Kalidas Theatre troupe and a riveting performance by the Azaad Dramatic Cultural Club. The musical lineup kept the energy high with singers Aseef, Tanzeeb, Mudassir Ali, Raja Bilal, and Ishrat delivering soulful and crowd-pleasing performances.
With only one day left before the festival concludes on August 10, Day 8 served as a powerful reminder of why the Chinar Book Festival has become a key event in Jammu & Kashmir’s cultural calendar — a place where stories are not just told, but truly lived.
The public is warmly invited to join in the final day’s celebration of words, art, and unity.