The 20th edition of the Delhi World Book Fair (WBF) is underway at Pragati Maidan, sprawling over more than a million square feet. With over 1,300 exhibitors participating, the organizers are hopeful the fair could attract over one million visitors this year, thanks to free entry and new metro connectivity. Earlier, the Kolkata Book Fair was India's biggest, but organizational issues shifted the spotlight fully to Delhi. Unlike global trade fairs in Frankfurt or London, WBF remains more of a vibrant carnival than a formal trade event. The last edition saw more than 800,000 visitors. Although the fair moved from late January to early February this year, some worry about turnout due to school exams and budget timings. Official sales data is unavailable, but applying average sales per participant suggests a cash turnover exceeding Rs 30 crore. This figure is more than three times the business done by leading bookstores across India in a week. The fair includes book sales, trade buying, rights deals, and other contracts. Experts suggest adding dedicated trade days to boost rights negotiations and help local literature reach international markets. The fair remains vital for readers and publishers to interact directly, discover rare titles, and enjoy exclusive offers. While online bookselling is convenient, nothing replaces the joy of browsing the world’s largest bookstore spanning every Indian language plus many foreign ones. The fair continues until March 4 at Pragati Maidan.