Central India’s oral and folk traditions take stage at Afsana Storytelling Festival

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

"Artistes will interpret Bindu as a point of origin, not a fixed idea. The theme is a conceptual anchor, guiding performances to unfold in multiple directions. The visual and experiential elements extend beyond performances. Student-led installations, regional cuisine inspired by Central India, and workshops invite participation and reflection," reveals Amrita Somaiya, Festival Chair of Afsana and trustee, Somaiya Vidyavihar. The line-up includes Kathak danseuse, Dr Tina Tambe, who will perform Rasanayika: A Kathak exploration of Navarasa; writer-performer, Mahmood Farooqui, presenting the Dastangoi showcase, Dastan-e-Karn az Mahabharat; and actor, Monica Gupta, amongst numerous others.

Amrita Somaiya

Presentations are centred on bardic forms, mythic retellings, and folklore. Somaiya explains, "Performances draw from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh's performative heritage, including Pandwani, [Raja Bhatrahari Katha], tribal folk tales, communal storytelling practices, and regional theatre." She adds that theatre rooted in Central Indian literature - such as a satirical adaptation of Harishankar Parsai's Inspector Matadeen on the Moon - reflect the region's socio-political context. "It positions Central India as a vibrant cultural centre, highlighting its living traditions rather than presenting it as peripheral," she signs off.

ON January 31; 9 am to 8.15 pm
AT Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Vidyavihar East; Kitab Khana, Somaiya Bhavan, Fort (two sessions).
LOG ON TO afsana.somaiya.edu/en/ (to register)
ENTRY Free