Bhubaneswar Kahani Utsav: Weaving Tales of Joy and Imagination in the Heart of the City

Bhubaneswar: On a vibrant Sunday at Indira Gandhi Park, families and children came together for a captivating session at the Bhubaneswar Kahani Utsav, orchestrated by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA). The event aimed to revive the essence of Sundays by bringing families closer through the magic of storytelling. The highlight of the festival was not just children playing the role of listeners, but actively participating as storytellers.

Amidst the lush green surroundings, storyteller Hridaya Ranjan led an interactive storytelling session where children enthusiastically contributed to the narrative. Positioned on either side of the narrator, they added one sentence at a time, creating a whimsical tale centered around a mischievous ghost. Laughter echoed through the park as the children’s imaginative narratives unfolded, depicting the ghost’s adventures from devouring chowmein on trees to strolling through the surroundings.

Following this lighthearted exchange, storyteller Sujit Mohapatra took the stage, regaling the audience with humorous anecdotes. His animated storytelling captivated both young and old, fostering a sense of joy and camaraderie among the spectators.

Subsequently, storytellers Riten Patnaik, Barsha Mishra, and Satyabrata Mohapatra continued to enrapture the audience with their narratives, drawing children away from their mobile screens to immerse themselves in the live storytelling experience.

The festival provided families with a unique opportunity to bond over storytelling, creating cherished memories and fostering a love for literature among children. Simultaneously, at three other venues across the city, storytellers like Lopamudra Mohanty, Prachitara, Adit Lata Manigarahi, Savita Patnaik, and Sampad Mahapatra shared their captivating tales, enriching the cultural fabric of Bhubaneswar. The Bhubaneswar Kahani Utsav successfully combined the joy of storytelling with a sense of community and cultural enrichment.