Jashn-e-Bachpan 

Jashn-e-Bachpan is Kalavkaash’s annual theatre and storytelling festival specially curated for children. It brings together professional performers and storytellers from across India to engage children through vibrant performances, multilingual storytelling, and interactive experiences.

Designed for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students, this unique festival aims to introduce children to the magic of live performance and the power of stories—right in their own classrooms and shared spaces.

At the heart of Jashn-e-Bachpan are the stories that spark imagination, curiosity, and connection. This year’s festival brings together storytellers from different parts of India—each rooted in their region’s oral traditions, yet open to play, reinvention, and discovery. Their storytelling sessions will take place inside classrooms, designed specifically for children in Grade 3 and Grade 4, and delivered in Marathi, Hindi, or English based on the school’s preference.

These are not just performances—they are immersive, interactive experiences that invite children to listen, imagine, respond, and feel. The storytellers bring with them decades of practice, deep listening, and a love for sharing stories with young minds.

Vikram is a Performance Storyteller, Theatre Practitioner, and Narrative-based Facilitator who travels across India weaving stories deeply rooted in ecology, folklore, and Indian heritage. His storytelling is minimal, expressive, and deeply connected to the soil of communities and traditions. Vikram has performed at national and international festivals and is known for adapting folk tales into live, interactive sessions for children and families. 

Kalpana is a retired banker based in Mumbai with a deep passion for storytelling. She also runs a farm near Karjat and is keenly interested in sustainability, recycling, and folk traditions. A creative learner, she engages with children through storytelling and continues to hone her craft through workshops and performances. 

Ruchika is a storyteller, writer, and creative facilitator who believes in the healing and nurturing power of stories. She regularly works with children and educators, building spaces for listening, empathy, and imagination. Her storytelling draws from literature, lived experiences, and cultural narratives, always adapted to meet the emotional and intellectual world of the child. 

Nikhil is a vibrant and engaging performer whose storytelling style is high-energy, interactive, and rooted in Marathi and Hindi theatre traditions. He’s a popular face in regional storytelling festivals and school engagements. With his deep connect to local culture and his theatre background, Nikhil creates performances that are both entertaining and emotionally resonant for young children. 

An architect and interior designer by profession, Anand is also a storyteller, reader, urban farmer, and parent to a farm full of trees and plants in Karjat. He brings a quiet, thoughtful energy to storytelling—rooted in his love for nature, curiosity about the world, and belief in continuous learning. His sessions are simple, sensitive, and driven by his deep desire to connect meaningfully with children. 

The theatre performances at Jashn-e-Bachpan are designed as full-fledged cultural experiences for Grade 5 students. Held at a centrally located venue in Belgaum, these performances invite schools to bring children into a shared space where stories unfold on stage through clowning, music, puppetry, physical theatre, and rich visual storytelling.

Each performance is crafted for a young audience, focusing on playfulness, imagination, and a respect for the child’s world. These are not school plays or lectures in disguise—they are professionally produced theatrical experiences meant to introduce children to the magic of live performance.

A delightful clown piece that explores the idea of not having a job—as a job in itself! Featuring two endearing characters, Tinu and Kamala, the play uses visual theatre, clowning, and absurd humour to hold the attention of children across ages. It is a non-verbal piece, making it accessible and engaging for all language backgrounds.

Performed by Red Thread Entertainment, Mumbai

Directed and performed by: Sagar Bhoir & Shreeram Chaudhari
Language: Non-verbal (universal) 

This play is a Kannada adaptation of Astrid Lindgren’s beloved “Pippi Goes to School.” It brings the fiercely independent Pippi Longstocking into an Indian context—where she walks into a classroom and disrupts the rules of learning with curiosity and mischief. With a rich soundscape, vibrant performances, and layered storytelling, the play is funny, moving, and thought-provoking all at once.

Presented by Indian Theatre Foundation, Mysuru

Directed by: Prasanna
Language: Kannada