Lucknow, Sept. 29 -- The 4th Gomti Book Festival concluded on a high note at the University of Lucknow on Sunday, reaffirming its place as a cultural and literary landmark in the city. Held from September 20 to 28, the nine-day festival drew more than 3.5 lakh visitors, a sharp rise from last year, with over 225 bookstalls showcasing titles from across genres. Sales witnessed an impressive surge of over 30% compared to the previous year, underscoring the city's growing appetite for books. More than 200 authors, artistes and experts took part in 100-plus literary and cultural sessions, panel discussions and children's workshops. The Children's Corner remained a major attraction on the final day, hosting storytelling sessions, quizzes and a book cover design workshop that saw ten young winners bag prizes. Children were also introduced to the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya digital platform. At the Lekhakganj, experts including K. Ganesh, Janki Shah and Shobha Kapoor deliberated on sustainability, recycling and phasing out single-use plastics, encouraging youth to adopt eco-friendly practices. As the festival drew to a close, the band Parashara enthralled audiences with a spirited performance, leaving the crowd clapping and cheering till the very last beat. Organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) in collaboration with the University of Lucknow and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the festival aligned with the goals of NEP 2020, promoting literacy, multilingualism and creative learning. Thanking the people of Lucknow for their overwhelming support, NBT announced that the festival will return in 2026. HTC...