Mumbai: This festival is bringing joy of storytelling to under-served children

Updated On: 05 February, 2025 09:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Evita Roche

In a world where stories hold the power to educate, inspire, and transport us to new realms, a nine-year-old community has been a beacon of imagination for under-served children

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A moment from a storytelling session for children at the Mumbai Zoo

Founded in 2016 as an initiative of the Akshara Foundation, this storytelling community has collaborated with numerous NGOs to bring the joy of storytelling to schools and villages, ensuring that children who seldom have access to such experiences can immerse themselves in the magic of narratives. “I once conducted a session on cave stories while inside a cave with the children,” recalls Reena Agrawal, sociology professor and co-founder of the community. This hands-on approach reflects the initiative’s commitment to making storytelling an engaging and immersive experience.

Each child who attends the festival will receive a book