On the 21st and 22nd of November, a wave of imagination swept across our school as students from Classes VIII, IX, and XI had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Kitaabo – Blue City Children’s Literature Fest held at Neerja Modi School, Jodhpur. What awaited us there was not just an event, but a celebration of stories, voices, art, and ideas.
The fest began with an inspiring inaugural ceremony attended by dignitaries including Maharaja Gaj Singh Ji and Maharani Sahiba, who reminded everyone of the irreplaceable joy of reading in a world taken over by screens.
From there, the festival turned into a living book. Students attended powerful storytelling sessions – like the enchanting “Masala Tales” by Ms. Jeeva Raghunath, whose energy transported the audience straight into magical worlds. Another impactful session by author Richa Jha explored themes of identity and self-worth through the touching Story of a Duster.
Workshops across the venue invited students to think, create, and collaborate. There was a fun puppet-making workshop led by Ms. Seema Wahi Mukherjee, lively illustration corners, and food stalls.
The festival also opened doors to bold conversations. In an interactive session, Ms. Neha Singh sparked a meaningful dialogue on gender roles and stereotypes, encouraging students to speak confidently and question societal expectations.
Adding to the pride of our school, a group of Class VIII students presented a thought – provoking Nukkad Natak on "Technology and Its Impact on Today’s World", securing the 2nd position. Between poetry performances like Mummy ka Scooter and energetic cultural showcases such as Kalbeliya dance, the fest was a vibrant blend of culture, creativity, and learning.
Along with the visiting groups, a special team of 10 students, accompanied by Yatheesha Sir , attended the fest with a unique responsibility — to bring a blank wall to life through art. With brushes, paints, and overflowing imagination, we set out to create a vibrant doodle wall inspired by the theme of Kitaabo — literature and books. What began as simple outlines slowly grew into a colourful tapestry of characters, quotes, symbols, and abstract expressions of reading, storytelling, and creativity. By the end, the once plain wall had transformed into a lively visual narrative — one that didn’t just decorate the festival space, but added to its spirit and memory.
Whether through a story, a sketch, a question, or a performance, every student returned with something new, curiosity, confidence, or simply a renewed love for books.
The Kitaabo Literature Fest was not merely a visit. It was an experience.
An inspiration. A reminder that imagination, when fed well, can reshape the world.
