"A nation that reads is invincible..."
This was the thought that stayed with me as I weaved through the stalls loaded with books at the Ditan Park Book Fair on a crowded Saturday, where the sheer number of people made it difficult at times to even reach said books. A sea of readers moved between shelves, leisurely picking through stacks of books and gingerly carrying their prized possessions through the crowds.
What particularly impressed me most was what happened after visitors found their treasure (books) of choice. Many simply sat down right outside the stalls to read, some settling on the pavements with their newly purchased books, others gathering on the grass with friends and family, eating, talking and reading together. Children and adults alike could be seen absorbed in their books amid the noise and bustle of the fair.