Shimla
The fourth Bal Rangmanch Mahotsav 2026 concluded at the Gothic Hall of Gaiety Theatre, Shimla, celebrating the creativity, confidence and theatrical talent of schoolchildren. Organised by Keekli Charitable Trust, the three-day inter-school Hindi drama competition brought together 16 teams, providing young performers a platform to showcase their acting skills and bring literary works to life through theatre.
A key feature of the festival was the theatrical adaptation of stories by Himachal Pradesh-based writers. Students and teachers worked together to transform literary narratives into stage performances, demonstrating their imagination, dialogue delivery, teamwork and understanding of storytelling. The initiative aims to nurture children’s interest in literature while strengthening their communication skills, self-confidence, leadership abilities and collaborative spirit.
Four plays were staged on the concluding day. Bal Ashram, Tutikandi, presented Shakkar Khora, written by Kamal Kumar Pyasa; Lakshya Public School, Arki, staged Vardani Peepal, by Piyush and Drishti; Lakshya Convent School, Manjhyat, performed The Unseen Curse, written by Keertanoor Kaur; and Model Children’s Home, Mashobra, presented A Trip to Shimla, written by Shagun.
The closing ceremony also featured a special performance titled Unity in Diversity by the Institute of Children with Special Abilities (Boys), Dhalli. Written and directed by Vivek Mohan, the presentation highlighted inclusion, diversity and the importance of ensuring opportunities for children with special abilities to participate in cultural activities.
Deeksha and Tasneem presented Dastaan-e-Bachpan, introducing the audience to the rich tradition of oral storytelling. The award distribution ceremony, held at 2.30 pm, saw the announcement of competition results and recognition of winners across various categories.
Introducing the work of Keekli Charitable Trust, Taran outlined its objectives and activities aimed at promoting children’s creative expression and overall development. Since September 2018, the trust has been working through literary, educational, social and cultural initiatives to help children discover and develop their abilities.
Guided by its motto, “Little Feet, Big Strides!”, the organisation seeks to ensure that every child has opportunities to learn, create and express themselves with confidence. The Bal Rangmanch Mahotsav is one of its key initiatives towards achieving this goal.
The festival also concluded its cultural celebrations with a special Jashn-e-Dastangoee programme at Gaiety Theatre at 5.30 pm. Aastha Shukla Chadha, Syed Sahil Agha and Tasneem presented the traditional Urdu art of storytelling, taking the audience through the rich heritage of literature, history and oral narration.
The three-day festival reinforced the role of theatre as more than a platform for performance, highlighting its potential to develop confidence, creativity, cooperation and a deeper appreciation of literature among children.
Keekli Charitable Trust thanked the participating students, teachers, schools, guests, judges, collaborators and supporters for contributing to the successful organisation of the festival.
