We are so excited to welcome everyone to be a part of our Varta storytelling festival at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) on October 13th. This festival has been created in partnership with AADL, University of Michigan’s Center of South Asian Studies (CSAS), and the Michigan Asia Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC). Here is what you can expect!
South-Asian writers and storytellers from Michigan and beyond are participating in the event that promises to bring multicultural storytelling to Ann Arbor‘s diverse and vibrant community.
RSVP FOR VARTA
FREE South-Asia-inspired storytelling festival for the first time in Ann Arbor
Performances and stories
1. Storytime with Shweta Ganesh Kumar
Editor, storyteller, and children’s book author, Shweta Ganesh Kumar will bring to us the story of the snoring Kumbhakarna. Children and their grownups are sure to enjoy this tale from the Ramayana. Although, it’s thousands of years old, the story is just as much fun.
2. Bento: Children’s Magazine Launch
We will be sharing our latest Bento magazine which is the world’s first South-Asia-inspired children’s magazine in print. At Ann Arbor, you will also meet one of our young student reporters, and some writers who have contributed to the fall issue. The issue is themed, “where the wild things are.”
3. Dastangoi – Hemal and Nagrai a folk love story
A Dastangoi-inspired folk story led by Upasna Kakroo and Mukta Joshi. This oral storytelling performance is interactive, and the audience is a part of the story!
4. U-M’s Visiting scholar, Dr. Rita Kothari on narrative
English literature expert, writer, and U-M’s visiting scholar, Dr. Rita Kothari will share a story from South Asia and talk about how we experience narratives. She will be open to Q&A from the audience.
Meet the Creatives and find books!
South-Asian creatives will be present at Varta and many of them are able to sign books. Our bookstore partners, BookSweet will be present with the books we love! So, come along and immerse yourself in stories and creative spotlights.
1. Likhawat Author Panel with Suma Subramaniam, Gauri Dalvi, and Salma Hussain: Meet children’s book authors in a wonderful panel talking about how to authentically bring emotions to their stories. The panel will talk about their creative tips and will be facilitated by Michigan-based author, Urmila Bilgi.
2. Meet South-Asian creatives: We will spotlight work from authors including Preethi Srinivas, Dushyant Wadivkar in addition to others.
3. Kitabi Qisse with Saadia Faruqi: We will also be hosting a special book conversation with writer Saadia Faruqi.
3. Books for signing and purchase: All authors will be able to sign their books. Please come and enjoy!
Music and Dance
1. U-M students Aditya Kalahasti, Rochan Yakkundi, and Asa Willoughby will perform a Carnatic music and dancing, collaboration piece.
2. Michigan-based dancer, Mukta Joshi will get all of us in the mood for expressing our emotions through dance.
Suma Subramaniam, Children’s Book Author of books including Namaste is a Greeting and many others.
Salma Hussain, Children’s Book Author of Mona Hasan’s Secret Diary.
Gauri Dalvi is the author of picture book, A Kurta to Remember.
Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author and interfaith activist. She writes the popular children’s early reader series “Yasmin” and a range of children’s books for K-12.
Alien born on Earth, Urmila is the author of children’s book, Moramba.
Shweta Ganesh Kumar is an award-winning author and editor of multiple children’s books and a storyteller.
Upasna Kakroo leads Peerbagh and is the author of nonfiction books, including recently released, Loal and four books for children.
Mukta Joshi is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and performer for the last 16 years. She is also a certified health coach.
Dushyant Wadivkar is an automotive tech leader and the author of a children’s book, 20odle 20o.
Preethi Srinivas is the author of Vijay visits a farm and CEO of nonprofit BefriendCows.
Deepthi Pochampally is a mental health professional working with kids in the Detroit area.
Dr. Rita Kothari teaches English at the Ashoka University and is a U-M’s visiting scholar. She is a translator, author of several books. Her recent book is Uneasy Translations : Self, Experience and Indian Literature.
Children’s Activities and FOOD!
1. For little and big kids, we will have coloring prompts available. Some of these coloring ideas can be submitted for prizes at the event! We will also have writing prompts available for kids and they get to submit for prizes.
2. We will also have food catered from JFS Ann Arbor. They will bring vegetarian Falafel sandwiches and snacks.
3. Farihennart will be available for Henna designs, if you are interested!
4. Mental Health professional, Deepthi Pochampally will be sharing some informative materials with parents during the event.
5. Peerbagh is partnering with Kaboo to provide writing prompts where kids and adults can convert their mini-stories into cards (and more fun!).
Storytelling Exhibition and South-Asian Literature at the Varta Storytelling Festival
1. An oral storytelling exhibition will be displayed at the library. This exhibit shares 13 storytelling techniques from all over South-Asia and the posters comprise of handmade illustrations and information about the various art forms. We will host a trivia after this exhibit information is shared. Trivia winners will win prizes!
2. 2024 Reader’s Choice Best Children’s and YA Books: We will announce the best children’s and YA books from 2024 at Varta.
We are grateful to our partners AADL, MAPAAC, BookSweet, Tundra Books (Penguin), HarperCollins, Little, Brown, JFS Ann Arbor, Farihennart, and University of Michigan’s Center of South Asian Studies (CSAS) for their invaluable support. Thank you to AADL’s director Eli Neiburger, council members Ayesha Ghazi and Travis Radina, and CSAS Director, Dr. Madhumita Lahiri for championing this program.
Please share, connect, and meet with us on October 13th from 10:30 am to 3:30pm. We can’t wait to bring this storytelling festival to Ann Arbor for the first time.
