Children's lit fest kicks off tomorrow

CHANDIGARH: It is time for city children to get some literary treat with the stage set for second Chandigarh Children Literature Festival (CCLF-2015). With various imaginative and novel sessions scheduled for two days, the festival that begins on January 30 at Kalagram and Dikshant International School, Zirakpur, will be a treasure trove for children and parents alike.
CCLF-2015 is being organized by Adab Foundation and Dikshant International School, Zirakpur. The festival will bring on a single platform top names of the children literary world.
The highlight of the inaugural day will be a book reading session by David Lelliott, British deputy high commissioner, Chandigarh. Ankit Chaddha and Poonam Girdhani will narrate a story in Urdu-Persian style, 'Dastangoi'. Under this, a story telling session: "Dastan Alice Ki" based on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland will be held.
Priya Kuriyan, an independent film maker and illustrator based in Delhi, would talk about the art of illustrations in children writings. She will dwell at length on how illustrators work and where the inspiration comes from? Mariam Karim Ahlawat, an author, would conduct 'a musical play reading' session.
There will be narrative sessions by the who's who of the children's literature world. On day one, Anushka Ravishankar, who has 18 books in her kitty, would present her take on her book, 'Captain Coconut -The Case of the Missing Bananas.' Paro Anand, a veteran of 18 books for children and young adults, will hold a session about her book, 'The Secret Diary of the World's Worst Genius and mix of other stories".
Workshops will be held at Dikshant International School, Zirakpur, that will include creative writing, digital photography, illustration and how to jump start your story and more.
"The main motive is to explore the creativity of students, so as to develop greater interest in them towards reading books and poetry. Reading books helps one think creatively; keeps the mind fresh, full of ideas and positive views. We want to inculcate these habits in our young generation. The results of the story writing competition will also be announced. Among the inputs we have got, few stories are going to be selected and these will also be published in the form of a book," said Mitul Dikshit, chairman, Adab Foundation and Dikshant International School.