Fergusson College, that old stone relic in Pune where the air smells of nostalgia and wet books, is about to become the epicentre of literary madness once again this December. The Pune Book Festival 2025 kicks off on the 13th and runs till the 21st. This year, it’s not just about buying books; it’s about immersing yourself in this cultural event.
Say Hello To Pune Book Festival 2025
As reported by the Free Press Journal, they’ve gone with the theme “Joy of Reading.” Beneath the vanilla phrasing lies a clear intent: to remind a digital generation that flipping pages is still an act of pride. Because when over a million people showed up last year and 2.5 million books flew off the shelves, it wasn’t a festival, it was a movement disguised as a flea market.
This year, there’s going to be a shiny new “book bus” that’s going to trundle into the rural folds of Pune district, dragging literature where algorithms haven’t reached. Add to that a digital vault of 3,000 free books available for download, and you have a festival that’s as much about reach as it is about reverence.
Pune Book Festival 2025: What’s New?
There’s also a new award category for media and photojournalism that “promotes reading culture.” The venue remains Fergusson College, a setting so poetic that it needs nothing extra. It’s where every artsy Pune kid has either fallen in love with books or fallen asleep during lectures, and that energy always seeps into the festival. In 2024, it wasn’t just about the books. It was a sensory overload with 600 stalls, food trucks, workshops for every demographic from toddlers to the recently retired, a children’s film festival and even five Guinness World Records. Given 2025’s new and improved literary spirit, we cannot wait to explore the geeky magic.
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Now Pune, long dismissed as Mumbai’s quieter cousin, is flexing its literary biceps. The city’s suddenly breathing ink. It’s now second only to Delhi in the “national book festival” pecking order, and with the 2025 edition looming. This will be more than a “literary carnival.” It’s a cultural claim-stake, complete with crowds, commerce, and just enough chaos to keep it interesting.
When: 13 December 2025-21 December 2025
Where: Fergusson College, Shivajinagar, Pune
Cost: Free Entry
Cover Image Courtesy: JordiRamisa/Istock