Once upon a time, there was a story

Gaatha has been a dream of mine since I attended a storytelling festival while traveling in the Yukon Canada in 1995rdquo says Amrita Somaiya Trustee of Somaiya Vidyavihar University and Festival Chair ldquoSince then Irsquove wanted to organise a festival that exposes our children youth and adults to the different aspects of storytelling within our culturally rich country I believe that storytelling as a tradition is as much a part of our lives as it was for our ancestors but we seldom see it in our daytoday livesrdquoFrom left Mrs Amrita Somaiya Festival Chair Dr Yamini Shah Programme Coordinator Usha Venkatraman Festival Director Hema Subramanian Programme Curator Ghost Stories at Gaatha Performers at Gaatharsquos first edition in 2023Hence the collaboration between Somaiya Vidyavihar University and Mumbai Storytellers Society to birth the Mumbai International Storytelling Festival where folklore and modernity meet and merge Envisioned as a movement to reconnect with narratives that shape personhood it is meant to rediscover the power of oral traditionsThis yearrsquos theme Mukhauta Unmasking Narratives taps into a universal concept that we all wear masks to conform to societal expectations ldquoWersquore trying to topple this notion We encourage attendees to embrace their true selves and to break free from these constructed personasrdquo says Dr Yamini Shah Programme Coordinator and Assistant Professor Somaiya Vidyavihar UniversityPerformers at Gaatharsquos first edition in 2023Gaatha also provides a space for introspection ldquoStories are among the first things we hear as human beingsrdquo says Usha Venkatraman Founder Mumbai Storytellers Society and Festival Director ldquoWhen a parent whispers to their baby a story begins We all swim in stories marinate in them repeat them tweak them weave them into our own identitiesrdquoThis yearrsquos festival will shine a spotlight on Kerala ldquoEach year we focus on one Indian state to highlight its unique culturerdquo says Dr Shah ldquoThis year wersquoll be showcasing everything from Yakshagana and Mohiniyattam to Kathakali and Keralarsquos folk talesrdquoldquoWe need to actively promote Indian tradition and culturerdquo adds Venkatraman ldquoItrsquos easy to chase after Western influences but we have only a few Caucasian storytellers and performers the rest are all Indians and South Asians This was a conscious decisionrdquoAlso Read A tour through Navratri and Dussehra celebrations across IndiaIn this immersive experience participants are as much a part of the storytelling as the performers ldquoTherersquos a general idea that storytelling is something only children enjoy but stories are agelessrdquo says Hema Subramanian Program Curator ldquoWe all watch stories in the form of movies and TV shows We have something for everyonemdashwhether yoursquore a child an adult or anywhere in betweenrdquoGhost Stories at GaathaTherersquos a story trail that takes attendees through the SVU campus blending history tradition and stories tied to the land Special workshops for children are on the agenda alongside adult sessions story slams and even a spooky Ghost Stories session around the campusrsquos gazebo at nightOne particularly unique feature is Story Spotmdasha dedicated space where attendees can stand and narrate personal tales to add to the collective tapestry of narratives ldquoStorytelling is perhaps the oldest art form and returns us to the roots of human connectionrdquo says Subramanian Itrsquos a reminder that the quiet magic of a welltold story can still captivate and inspireWHEN 1820 October 2024WHERE Somaiya Vidyavihar University KitabkhanaPRICE Rs 500 onwardsTO BOOK wwwgmisforg