Jashn-e-Bachpan 

Jashn-e-Bachpan was born from a simple belief that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the magic of live storytelling and theatre. Over four days, classrooms became spaces of imagination while performance venues came alive with theatre, laughter, music, and shared experiences.

Artists from across India joined hands with Kalavkaash to create meaningful encounters between children and the performing arts. Rather than treating theatre and storytelling as entertainment alone, the festival encouraged children to listen deeply, imagine freely, participate actively, and discover the joy of stories performed live.

In Aug 2025, Kalavkaash Art Foundation presented the inaugural edition of Jashn-e-Bachpan a four-day theatre and storytelling festival created especially for children. Conceived as an annual celebration of stories, imagination, and live performance, the festival brought together schools, professional storytellers, theatre artists, and over 3,000 children from across Belagavi for an unforgettable cultural experience. 

• 4 Days

• 7 Participating Schools

• 8 Professional Storytellers

• 10 Theatre Artists

• 70+ Storytelling Sessions & Performances

• 3,000+ Children Reached

Students of Grades 3 and 4 participated in immersive storytelling sessions conducted within their classrooms. Presented in Marathi, Hindi, and English, these sessions encouraged children to listen, imagine, respond, ask questions, and become active participants in every story.

Each storyteller brought a distinct artistic voice, creating experiences rooted in oral traditions, contemporary storytelling, theatre, and play. Together, they transformed familiar classrooms into spaces of wonder, curiosity, and conversation.

Students of Grade 5 attended professionally produced theatre performances at a common venue in Belagavi, where they experienced the excitement and wonder of live performance. Through clowning, visual theatre, music, puppetry, and contemporary storytelling, the productions introduced many children to professional theatre for the very first time.

Designed specifically for young audiences, these performances celebrated imagination, humour, curiosity, and the unique perspective of childhood while introducing children to the richness of contemporary theatre.

Eight storytellers from different parts of India came together for the inaugural edition of Jashn-e-Bachpan. Bringing diverse artistic practices, languages, and storytelling traditions, they transformed classrooms into spaces of imagination, conversation, laughter, and discovery, reaching over 3,000 children across seven participating schools.

Vikram Sridhar

Performance storyteller, theatre practitioner, and narrative facilitator, Vikram is known for weaving stories inspired by ecology, folklore, and Indian heritage. His engaging performances have travelled across India and international storytelling festivals.

Kalpana Dumale

After a career in banking, Kalpana Dumale found her true calling in urban farming and storytelling. Her love for children, nature, and folk traditions shapes warm, interactive sessions that celebrate curiosity and imagination.

Ruchika Khot

Storyteller, writer, and creative facilitator, Ruchika believes stories nurture empathy and imagination. Her sessions invite children to participate, reflect, and connect with stories through conversation and creative exploration.

Nikhil Pujari

A theatre practitioner and storyteller, Nikhil blends humour, movement, and audience participation to create energetic performances rooted in Marathi theatre traditions and designed especially for young audiences.

Deepali Divekar

Administrative Officer at DIET, Alibaug, Deepali Divekar is a passionate teacher, poet, writer, and storyteller. She believes stories inspire imagination, language, and meaningful learning through warm and engaging experiences.

Ankush Bharati

Storyteller and theatre practitioner from Parbhani, now based in Pune, Ankush performs interactive stories in Marathi and Hindi. His sessions combine theatre, play, and participation to create joyful storytelling experiences for children.

Priyanka Kotwal

Mumbai-based storyteller and puppeteer, Priyanka Kotwal has worked extensively with children for over seven years. Through stories and puppetry, she creates playful, imaginative experiences that encourage participation, empathy, and joyful learning.

Vaibhav Lokur

Theatre practitioner, storyteller, researcher, and founder of Kalavkaash Art Foundation, Vaibhav Lokur envisioned Jashn-e-Bachpan as an annual celebration where children experience the transformative power of live storytelling and theatre.

Jobless Job

A delightful clown performance exploring the idea of not having a job—as a job in itself! Featuring two lovable characters, Tinu and Kamala, the production used visual theatre, clowning, and absurd humour to delight children across age groups. Being completely non-verbal, the performance transcended language and connected effortlessly with every audience.

Performed by: Red Thread Entertainment, Mumbai

Directed & Performed by: Sagar Bhoir and Shreeram Chaudhari

Language: Non-verbal

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Pippigondhu Pappi

A Kannada adaptation of Astrid Lindgren's beloved Pippi Goes to School, this production reimagined the iconic Pippi Longstocking within an Indian classroom. Through humour, music, and imaginative storytelling, the performance celebrated curiosity, individuality, and the freedom to question conventional ideas of learning.

Presented by: Indian Theatre Foundation, Mysuru

Directed by: Prasanna

Language: Kannada