At the Little Storymakers session, Meera Venkatesan did what she does best. She turned a regular festival morning into a space full of imagination and laughter. Children gathered around her in a close circle, some sitting cross-legged, some standing on their toes to see better. Every time she asked a question, hands shot up in the air. The energy was warm and eager.

Meera opened the session with a simple question: “How many like to play indoors? And how many like the outdoors?” The answers came loud and mixed. She smiled and declared that the best weather to play outside was when it rained. With that one line, she set the tone for the story she was about to tell.

She introduced Megha, a fictional rain cloud with a mind of her own. To help children see Megha, Meera wore a small cloud-shaped tiara. This one prop brought instant excitement. Children leaned forward, ready to follow Megha’s journey. Megha wanted to rain, but she did not know where to start, and that small confusion became the heart of the story.

Megha’s first attempt was over a little pig rolling in a muddy puddle. Meera changed her voice to mimic gentle raindrops and tapped the ground to show the drizzle. The pig protested and shook its head. It loved being dirty and did not want a sudden wash. Megha floated away, puzzled.

Next, Megha found a bear who was fast asleep. Meera slowed her narration and lowered her voice to show the bear’s deep rest. But when Megha dripped on him, the bear growled in irritation. He did not want to be disturbed. Megha drifted away again.

Still hopeful, Megha approached an elephant who was visiting the Bangalore Literature Festival. Meera acted out the elephant’s surprise with wide eyes, flapping arms and a startled gasp that made the children laugh. The elephant panicked at the drizzle and pushed Megha away. Children in the audience joined Meera in saying “drip-drop”, creating a shared rhythm.

Megha travelled on and reached a lion near a waterhole. As soon as she rained, all the deer ran away. The lion let out an annoyed roar, which Meera acted out with drama. Megha felt more discouraged now. She floated away quietly, whispering “drip-drop” like a tiny cry. Several children echoed her cry, filling the tent with soft raindrop sounds.

This was when a rabbit appeared. Meera switched to a gentle, comforting tone. The rabbit asked Megha why she was sad. When Megha said she only wanted to rain but no one wanted her, the rabbit encouraged her to try again, but this time with a “happy cry”.

So Megha rained, happily.

At this point, Meera changed her prop and wore a rainbow-shaped tiara. Children gasped and clapped at the sudden colour. A rainbow appeared in the story. The pig cheered. The elephant was relieved. The lion roared in delight. All the animals thanked Megha for bringing the rain they needed. The children tapped their hands on the floor to “help Megha rain”, making the session feel like a live performance.

The second half of the session became even more interactive. Meera invited children to become storytellers on stage. She handed out roles; a peacock, a unicorn, a tiger and a rabbit. The children took their roles seriously and acted with confidence. The tiger tried to stop the peacock from dancing. The unicorn discouraged the peacock. The rabbit tried to solve the problem. When the peacock began to cry, a child from the audience reminded everyone that Megha had already rained, so the peacock had every reason to dance. The moment was simple and sweet, and it filled the space with laughter.

Through this activity, the children got a clear sense of how stories work. They learnt that characters need motives, actions and reactions. They also learnt that stories grow when everyone participates. Meera showed them that storytelling is not only about listening. It is about imagining, acting and expressing without fear.

That was how Meera Venkatesan created little storymakers at the festival by combining dramatic narration, playful props and genuine interaction. Her session celebrated imagination in its purest form. Children walked away smiling, proud of the stories they had helped shape, and perhaps inspired to create a few more of their own.

Dr. Chhavi Gandhi

Dr. Chhavi Gandhi is a doctor turned author who documents books, culture and everyday stories. She writes about how literature shapes community life and personal identity. Her work blends clarity with warmth, grounded observation and a deep appreciation for storytelling.