The Amar Ekushey Granthamela wore a joyful look yesterday as visitors wearing traditional yellow clothes, in celebration of the Pahela Falgun, thronged the fairground.

A large number of them were young couples who came to the book fair to look for romantic books for their significant others just a day ahead of the Valentine's Day.

Many of these couples, girls in saris with garlands of flower in their hair and boys in punjabis, were seen enjoying the company of each other while shopping for books from stall to stall at the Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy premises.

With fresh leaves in trees and birds chirping, many of them were seen enjoying the weather on the first day of spring while taking a few snaps on their phones or cameras to preserve memories of the day. 

Love was in the air all throughout the fair ground and the surrounding areas including the TSC area.

Azad, a researcher at BCSIR, bought romance novel “Lilaboti” by Humayun Ahmed for Mowrin.

“Nothing is more pleasing than getting a favourite book by a favourite author from the dear one. I expect more such gifts on the Valentine's Day [today],” Mowrin, a senior at Dhaka University, said with chuckles.

“She also bought two poetry books for me, but she didn't tell me the names yet,” Azad said smiling.

Popular writer Imdadul Haq Milon was found surrounded by autograph hunters at the stall of Ananya Prokashani.

It is a delight to notice so many people gathered so peacefully to observe the Pahela Falgun and the Valentine's Day, Milon said.

“It's a good sign that youths wait for this day and buy books as gifts for their loved ones -- just the way we used to celebrate [these occasions] in our school or college years.” 

Milon's three romance novels – “Sharbon Josnay”, “Lilian Upakkhan” and “Kemon Tomer Bhalobasha” -- from Ananya Prokashani were selling well.

Anupom Prokashani has brought separate collections of romance stories titled “Shreshtha Romantic Upanyas” written by various renowned authors including Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore, Buddha Dev Bose and Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay.

High volume of sales yesterday made the publishers happy.

Rowshan Ara, a staff member of Panjeree Publication, said eminent author Syed Shamsul Haq's “Bhalobashar Diney” -- a compilation of 71 poems has been lauded by the visitors.

Two romance novels titled “Shatabdi Periya Bhalobasha”, by Mashiul Alam, and “Tomar Chokher Jal”, by Humayun Kabir Dhali, were also available at their stall.

Indrajit Sarker's new juvenile story book “Chhoto Mamar Kando” of Desh Publications and satirical reality show Mirakkel's star Emdadul Hoque Hridoy's new book “A Journey by Mirakkel” from Sahosh Publications were selling well.  

Books on sports are also in good demand. For the lovers of the game of football, Aloghar Prokashona has brought out “Pele Theke Messi” by Noman Mohammad.  

A total of 71 new books arrived on the 13th day of the book fair.