Kahramanmaraş's first books and culture fair is taking place at KAFUM, the municipal fair center, today, with famous poets and authors expected to flock to the fair, organized by the metropolitan municipality. More than 130 publishing houses and over 100 authors will visit the fair to attend conferences, poetry readings, discussions and autograph sessions. Among the esteemed names in attendance are Ahmet Günbay Yıldız, Bestami Yazgan, Mehmet Ali Bulut, as well as local authors and poets such as Arif Eren, Erdem Bayazıt and İnci Okumuş. The fair's honorary guests are renowned authors Nuri Pakdil, Rasim Özdenören and Bahattin Karakoç, all of whom are known for their contributions to Turkish literature and thought. The 10-day fair will also see a performance by the Konya Aşk-ı Sema Whirling Dervishes Group,and concerts from Uğur Işılak and the Ankara Turkish World Society. The event specifically aims to encourage young people to read books. Mayor Fatih Mehmet Erkoç underlined the significance of organizing a book fair in Kahramanmaraş, known as the city of poets and authors. "As you may know, Kahramanmaraş is the land of folk authors and poets and has always been influential in Turkish culture," he said. "This is because it is our task to promote the city's cultural dynamism." Erkoç invited all citizens to the fair and said that the area's cultural activities have helped transform the city into a brand. The fair will run until December 21, and is open from 10:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m. every day.