Literary enthusiasts’ love affair with book fairs is no secret. Whether in libraries, exhibitions or bookstores, books have been celebrated for centuries. Book fairs and literary events are held every year, displaying hundreds of types of books and attracting huge crowds of avid readers.
This year too, the World Book Fair 2026 was held at the Bharat Mandapam from January 10 to 18. However, it made headlines not for its diverse collection of books but for the chaotic scenes that unfolded as the crowd’s book frenzy turned into a free-for-all. What was supposed to be a celebration soon descended into chaos and went viral for all the wrong reasons.
What started as a joyous celebration at one of the world’s biggest literary festivals turned into an unexpected frenzy. Several videos showed excited crowds getting out of control as people tried to grab books placed on shelves.
One viral video showed crowds of people gathered at a stall, jumping up and down to snatch books, completely ignoring the usual order and decorum of the event. As seen in the video, several individuals had their hands raised to grab books, while one man stood tall and reached up to books placed on a tall shelf near the sign.
Here’s how people responded:
One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “What is wrong with us? Last day of Delhi Book Fair and look at the scenes. Moral collapse.”
Another commented: “They are apparently so-called literate and educated people. Indians skip civics every now and then. We instantly turn into animals if we get a chance to steal anything.”
A third user said: “A place to read support, learning and values… turned into a reminder of why these books are needed in the first place.”
A fourth user wrote: “Looks like a fish market.”
Meanwhile, exhibits of military heritage, defense literature and curatorial hardware were among the major highlights of the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026. Apart from books, the exhibition featured live military equipment used during border deployments. Highlights also included the Arjun tank and a detailed replica of the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier, both of which generated a lot of public interest.
