Sun Feb 09 15:01:03 UTC 2025: **Tirupati Book Festival Celebrates Reading and Literary Excellence**
TIRUPATI, Andhra Pradesh – The 17th annual Tirupati Book Festival concluded Sunday, celebrating the power of books and promoting a love of reading. The festival, organized by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Tirupati Kendra in association with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), drew large crowds from academic and literary circles.
Speakers at the closing ceremony lauded the efforts of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan honorary director N. Satyanarayana Raju, who has spearheaded the event for 17 years. The festival featured the release of three new books: *Viswakarmeeya Aayadhi Lakshanam*, *Sreesukthaparayana Vidhi*, and *Devatha Dhyana Malika*, published by Shilpakala Bharati, Vijayawada.
The event included thought-provoking speeches from leading academics, including IIT Director K. N. Satyanarayana, IISER Director Shantanu Bhattacharya, and National Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor GSR Krishnamurthi, who highlighted the importance of creative thinking in the age of artificial intelligence. Prizes were awarded to winners of various literary and academic competitions held throughout the festival.
Dr. Alladi Mohan, dean of SVIMS University and secretary of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Tirupati Kendra, emphasized the festival’s crucial role in fostering intellectual growth. Dr. B. Vengamma, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, also addressed the gathering, praising the efforts of students and educators in cultivating a reading culture. Joint Collector Shubham Bansal attended the festival and explored the wide range of books on display.
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