Witty ‘LIT’tle readers

Imagine a space filled with puppet shows, story-telling sessions, theatre routines, and happy children. It doesn’t stop with just that, there are quiz contests, puzzles and cool cartoon sessions added with oodles of entertainment and intellect. That’s the scene with Kathavana Literature Festival, which is conducted by the Azim Premji University.

Kathavana is a carnival that connects children between the ages of 6 to 14 and a variety of audiences, through the literary world. Shailaja Menon, organiser of the festival says that it gives a high quality experience to children, in using language as a tool. She adds, “Literature is a natural way to envisage creativity. Through the process, we are trying to help teachers, librarians and students understand to use literary spaces effectively.” The event has a lot of authors, publishers and illustrators who join hands to do the same. Vidya Mani, who is involved in multiple ways at the festival, says she’s trying to make young kids understand the use of illustration and cartoons in literature. “Illustrations are an effective way to make children understand and imagine better,” she says. She also has plans on setting up a travelling library, Funky Rainbow at the festival.  

Kathavana also opens a world of possibilities to its participants and helps children meet authors and publishers to have brain-storming sessions with them. Mala Kumar, an author, says, “We hope to touch a lot of young lives though our event as it helps children understand the joy of reading and how to be a happy reader.” She is focusing on her book 'Rupaiya – Paisa' series which helps children understand the concept of saving money. Apart from all these interactive sessions, there is also an entertaining puppet show organised by Umashankar Periodi. The motive behind this is to spark the imagination of children through such simple tools. He adds that, “We do not need sophisticated tools to open the world of creativity to children.”

The festival will be held at Makkala Koota from 10 am to 5:30 pm on December 12 and 13 and from 10 am to 7.30 pm on December 14.