Barasat Book Fair Deserted: Smartphone Addiction Blamed for Low Attendance, Sellers Worried

• The Barasat Book Fair is experiencing significantly low attendance, worrying sellers and publishers.
• Despite a wide collection of books, sales are not picking up, with many stalls empty of customers.
• Sellers attribute the decline to increased smartphone addiction, diverting leisure time from reading.
• Publishers note the rise of online book platforms and rising daily necessity prices as contributing factors.
• Organizers hope for increased crowds on weekends and are hosting events to attract visitors.

Why It Matters: Smartphone addiction and online platforms are impacting book fair attendance, raising concerns for the future of reading.