Samay Yaan and the Ministry of Culture organize Kathaa Lok, a vibrant festival of storytelling

Culture Minister Meenakshi Lekhi was the chief guest.

Katha Lok: Samay Yaan, with the support and guidance of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Kathaa Lok, organized a vibrant storytelling festival on February 10 and 11 at Palika Park, Connaught Place, New Delhi.

The festival showcased a mix of stories by renowned Indian writers and fresh stories by emerging Kathakaars, with an aim to revive the art of storytelling and inculcate Indian values ​​and cultural diversity among the younger generation through the art of telling it.

Culture Minister Meenakshi Lekhi was the chief guest. She said that Indian knowledge, history, wisdom and science have been preserved through stories over the centuries and now it is our turn to continue the tradition.

Kathaa Lok attracted more than 500 spectators, who were enthralled by the captivating stories of both emerging and seasoned Kathakaars.

Fauzia Dastango narrated 'Dastan-e-Ram' in Urdu, while Danish Husain unfolded 'Tilismi Dastanein' and Manu Sikander Dhingra shared Heer Ranjha's timeless love saga in 'Qissa Heer Waris Shah'.

In the competitive segment, with 95 participants, including 75 students from different colleges, the grand winner Abhinav Kumar Jha took home Rs 51,000, the second and third winners were Pulkit Garg and Sheetal respectively.

The festival also offered an Open Mic session (non-competitive), allowing the audience to share their own stories.

Jamshed Siddiqui eloquently narrated the story of Bhartiya Sangeet from Vedic times to the present, conceived by music master Pt Abhay Sopori, featuring eminent artists like Sudha Raghuraman, Ragini Rainu, Samit Mallick, Avinash Kumar and Nitin Sharma to name a few .