20 November,2014 05:43 AM IST | | Namrata Anjana
KathaYatra, returns to Pune with its third edition. The unique storytelling competition for grandparents has several surprises in store
KathaYatra, Pune Guide, third edition, grandparents, storytelling, Shakkar Ke Paanch Daane
Listening to one's grandparents' stories is one of the most charming experiences in life. Now imagine listening to several grandparents where they relive their stories together.
KathaYatra is a unique event that does precisely this as it invites grandparents from the city to take part in a storytelling competition. Organised by the NGO Bhasha Foundation, the annual competition will be happening in the city for the third time, this year. KathaYatra attempts to offer the next generation the experience of listening to stories narrated by the elder generation.
Ranga Sri Little Ballet will be one of the performances at the storytelling festival
Swati Raje, president of Bhasha Foundation shares, "Grandmothers' tales are vanishing as the joint family structures dissolves into modern nuclear families. Story telling is a skill; thus, the idea behind this competition is to explore stories in different regions of Maharashtra and felicitate the skill."
A still of the play, Shakkar Ke Paanch Daane that will be shown as part of KathaYatra
Bhasha Foundation started KathaYatra in 2011. This year then, one can look forward to a bouquet of activities, workshops, and performances slated for the event which will have acknowledged artists from all over the world, informs Raje.
During the three-day festival, Nancy Silberkleit, CEO of Archies comics will unfold interesting stories behind the iconic comics. There will also be a performance of a Hindi play, Shakkar ke Paanch Dane, directed by Manav Kaul.
The main storytelling competition will be followed by a children's play, Panchatantra along with workshops such as Weave Your Own Story which will encourage children to build and narrate their own stories. Also, there is an interesting session on environmental stories - Nani ki Kahani: Pani ki Kahani by Abid Surti. Adding a dash of Folk Arts will be Kolkata-based Chai Pani and Pattachitra who will conduct workshops on the art forms.
