A state-wide book fair, being organised by the District Library Council, will get underway at the Sports Council indoor stadium in Kottayam on Friday. According to the organisers, publishers across the state will participate in the five-day fair, which will come to a close on Tuesday.

National Award-winning director Jayaraj will inaugurate the festival at a function to be held at 4.30 pm on Friday. District Library Council president V K Karunakara Menon will preside over the inaugural function. Jayaraj and Nikhil S Praveen, National Award winner for the best cinematographer, will be honoured by Kottayam MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on the occasion.

Municipal chairperson P R Sona will inaugurate the book sale. Debates, lectures and various cultural events will be organised as part of the fair, which will be open for the public from 9.30 am to 7 pm. A short film directed by Jayaraj will be screened in the evening. State Library Council president K V Kunjikrishnan will inaugurate a seminar at 10.30 am on Saturday. State Women's Commission chairperson M C Josephine will inaugurate the women's seminar on Sunday.

A children's conference will be held on Monday at 10.30 am. Poet Ezhacheri Ramachandran will inaugurate the poets' meet at 2.30 pm. Municipal Opposition leader C N Sathyanesan will inaugurate the valedictory meeting to be held at 5 pm on Tuesday. Hundreds of books under various categories will be available at special discount rates for schools, cooperative institutions and local bodies.