Navratri – the vibrant festival where good triumphs over evil through the power of dance and devotion – is always a thrill to celebrate. So when La Forêt Education Charitable Trust decided to host a Navratri Art Workshop at the Visamo Kids Foundation, we knew it was going to be something special.
This time around, we wanted to focus on the real spirit of Navratri – creativity, inclusivity and celebration in a way that’s not all about commercialisation. Instead, we gave the kids at Visamo a chance to connect with their culture in a really meaningful way through art.
Event Overview & Participation
About 60 super excited kids from 5th to 12th standard turned up for the event – and we were blown away by their energy. We had the talented celebrity artist Paumil Khatri join us, who gave the kids some fantastic interactive demonstrations that just fired up their imagination.
But what really made the event special was the fact that it was a totally inclusive affair, with both kids and staff getting in on the action. And by structuring the sessions in a way that made sense for everyone, we made sure every child – regardless of their skill level – could get in on the fun and discover just how creative they were.
An Afternoon of Art, Laughter, and Colours
The atmosphere was electric as Paumil Khatri showed the kids how to make those super-fun festival accessories that everyone loves to wear. The kids were on a roll, making decorated dandiya sticks, custom-made bangles, funky sunglasses and gorgeous braids that just lit up the place.
But here’s the best part – each kid was free to experiment with different materials and express their unique style in any way they wanted. It wasn’t just about learning how to make the accessories, or teaching the kids new skills – we also wanted to give them a big confidence boost. And by the end of it, every kid had made something that they could wear with pride during the festival season.
Creating a Learning Environment
We formed small groups so the kids could learn from one another – and had some super-enthusiastic facilitators and interns on hand to support them every step of the way. The whole thing ran like clockwork, from welcoming Paumil to the live demonstrations, and then the activity sessions.
The kids got a chance to present their designs to each other, appreciate each other’s work and just generally celebrate the fact that they were all creating something truly unique. The whole VISAMO team – faculty, interns and students alike – came together to make the session happen. And the result was a super-supportive and encouraging learning environment where the kids could just let their creativity shine.
The Impact & Why We Love It
This workshop was about giving the kids a real sense of belonging and pride in their culture. And the best part is that they get to keep the handmade accessories they made – and we’re planning on using them in some of the NGO’s upcoming dance performances.
It’s also a big part of our growing partnership with Visamo Kids Foundation, and a way for us to put our values of providing a value-based education to the students into practice. For us, learning should be a fun, whole-person experience for every single child. And if you want to support these creative journeys, you can do it by donating to our page – we’d love to have you on board.
