Amid controversy over venue, the 38th edition of the Agartala Book Fair kicked off on Wednesday.
Agartala Book Fair is the second largest in eastern India after the Kolkata Book Fair.
Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated the 12-day book fair at Hafania international ground.
Tripura education and law minister Ratan Lal Nath said around 130 stalls were set up by the book sellers and publishers from Bangladesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Assam besides Tripura.
He said over 3,000 artists, singers, performers from Bangladesh and Tripura would perform in various cultural events to be held on each day of the fair.
The state government had introduced several awards — Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lifetime Achievements in combined feats, and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Integration Award for outstanding contribution in the field of social service.
Over 700 poets coming from more than 12 linguistic backgrounds will recite their poems at the book fair.
Several publishers and booksellers were upset and did not take part in the fair as the government shifted the venue from the capital city to the outskirts.