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Manipal: To encourage literary interest and creativity among children, Kannada daily Udayavani is organising “Akshara Ambari”, a two-day children’s literary festival at Hattiyangadi in Kundapur taluk on May 16 and 17.

The event is being held with sponsorship from the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) and in association with Sri Siddhivinayaka Residential School, Hattiyangadi.

Students from Class 7 to PU level from different parts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Chikkaballapur and Bagalkote, are participating in the residential camp.

The festival will feature essay, short story, poetry and instant writing competitions. Winners will receive attractive prizes and certificates.

Storytelling sessions and poetry gatherings will also be held during the festival, where students can present their own creative works. Experts will conduct sessions on newsroom functioning, poetry writing and storytelling techniques.

Book exhibitions, photo exhibitions and introductions to senior literary personalities are also part of the event.

NMPA has extended support to the festival under its CSR initiative. Parents are also allowed to attend the literary event along with children.

Inauguration today

The inaugural programme will be held on Saturday morning.

The festival will be inaugurated by Dr Sandhya S. Pai, Managing Editor of Taranga weekly magazine, popularly known among children as “Sandhya Mami”.

Retired Hampi University Vice-Chancellor Prof B.A. Viveka Rai and Sri Siddhivinayaka Residential School Principal Sharana Kumar will attend as chief guests.

MMNL Managing Director and CEO Vinod Kumar will preside over the function.

Day one programmes

The inaugural session of Akshara Ambari will begin at 10.30 am on May 16.

At 11.15 am, Prof B.A. Viveka Rai will interact with students on the topic “How I Started Writing”.

The second session titled “Katha Suruli Uruli Uruli” will focus on how stories are created.

After lunch, an activity session titled “Ninna Nee Ari-Bari” will be conducted. Another session, “Mobile Tore Pustaka Tere”, will discuss the importance of reducing mobile phone addiction and developing reading habits.

Writer Anupama Benachinamaradi will later speak about storytelling, characters and the world of fiction.

Essay, short story, poetry and letter-writing activities will also be held during the day.

After a tea break, Manjula Subrahmanya will conduct a storytelling session.

In the evening, a special story session featuring students’ own creative works will be held under the chairmanship of Anupama. Bhargava Ganesha Bhat will present a session on school-related news and updates.

Competitions open for students

Story, poetry, essay and letter-writing competitions will be conducted on May 16 from 3 pm to 4 pm.

An instant writing competition will be held on May 17 from 9.45 am to 10.30 am.

Students from schools and colleges across the coastal region can directly participate in the competitions without prior registration. Winners will receive prizes and certificates.

Free bus facility arranged

To help participants attend the festival, Sri Siddhivinayaka School has arranged a free bus service.

The school bus will be available at Shastri Circle in Kundapur between 9.30 am and 9.45 am for students and parents.