Udaipur |The three-day Udaipur Tales Storytelling Festival, organised with the aim of nurturing creativity and value-based thinking among children, concluded on Sunday at Park Exotica on Shilpgram Road. The festival was organised by Maa My Anchor Foundation and witnessed enthusiastic participation from children, families, and culture lovers.


On the second day, young participants learned lessons of responsibility, emotional understanding, and duty through thoughtfully curated stories. Tales of mystery, adventure, and love life captivated children, offering not only entertainment but also meaningful life messages. The storytelling sessions created an atmosphere of curiosity and joy, with children responding energetically and even breaking into dance during the concluding moments. The programme was conducted by Shruti Mantri.


The day began with storyteller Shona Malhotra, who presented The Mountain Death Love Earth and Mujia Magoo. While one story explored emotions and relationships, the other delved into mystery and suspense. Children were so immersed that they felt as though they were visually experiencing the stories rather than merely listening to them.

Foundation founder Sushmita Singha explained that the stories conveyed the message that love cannot be forced and must be built on trust, patience, and sincerity. She emphasized that superstition, deceit, and shortcuts have no place in genuine relationships.

Folk storyteller Maiya Ganatra entertained children with a folk tale rooted in traditional literature, delivering messages of courage and confidence. Co-founder Salil Bhandari shared that storyteller Rajesh Shinde used humour and classic narratives such as Gopi Gain and Upendra Bagha Bain to convey that a positive heart and intent can overcome any obstacle.

The afternoon ‘Jamghat’ session featured storytelling competitions for homemakers, college students, and independent participants. A women-only segment included short story presentations by Dr. Neha Damani and Dr. Garima Mishra, followed by an open mic and musical performances by Arun Salvi. Winners were felicitated.

Master storytellers were honoured, with Padma Shri awardee Parshuram Gangavane receiving recognition in the folk category and Valentina Trivedi in the contemporary category. Jury members included Sandhya Jain, Amitabh Srivastava, and Prithviraj Chaudhary.

Evening sessions featured theatre director Danish Hussain, Colonel R.K. Sharma, Bollywood actor Arif Zakaria, and singer-actor Meiyang Chang, whose performances kept audiences engaged till late night.

Speaking on the occasion, Danish Hussain remarked that narratives are essential to life and society, adding that stories act as mirrors reflecting our intent and values. The festival concluded on Sunday with a rich mix of autobiographical, mythological, classical, and contemporary storytelling, leaving behind lasting impressions and inspiring young minds through the timeless power of stories.

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