Updated On: 31 January, 2026 10:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Trisha Ghosh
Afsana 2026 at Somaiya Vidyavihar brings Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh’s folk, oral, and performative traditions to life, featuring Kathak, Dastangoi, tribal tales, and regional theatre

A moment from a Dastangoi rendition by Mahmood Farooqui. Pic Courtesy/Mahmood Farooqui; (right) Artiste Sanjay Mahajan will perform the Gangaur folk dance (above) at the festival.Pic Courtesy/Sanjay Mahajan
Many of Central India’s oral, folk, and performative storytelling traditions, with a focus on Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, will come to life today at Afsana: The Somaiya Storytelling Festival 2026. Held by Somaiya Vidyavihar University, it is curated around the theme ‘Bindu: Centred Metaphors’.
Performers will include Dr Tina Tambe, an accomplished Kathak exponent from the Jaipur Gharana. Pic Courtesy/Dr Tina Tambe