A vibrant and engaging three-day Bal Mela was organised from 17 to 19 July 2025 across five government schools in Kone Block, Sonbhadra. The event, held in the villages of Chanchikhurd, Goomar, Gidhiya, Kota, and Negae, was initiated by Development Alternatives and supported under the LIC-HFL initiative, in collaboration with the Eklavya Foundation. With 40 enthusiastic students participating, the Mela aimed to nurture creativity, spark curiosity for learning, and foster expression through a range of interactive, arts-based activities.

Each day began with an interactive session encouraging students to reflect and share personal experiences—such as memories of weddings or familiar folk tales. This was followed by reading-based activities, where students engaged with stories and visual prompts—exploring what might happen next, identifying characters, and discussing themes such as gardening, ageing, and personal achievements.

Post-reading sessions included creative tasks like drawing characters from the stories and enacting scenes, allowing students to retell narratives through theatre. Popular children’s poems and songs—such as Ibn Batuta, Lalaji Ek Ladoo Do, and Cheenti O Cheenti—were recited collectively, followed by discussions that linked the poems’ themes to real-life situations, including bartering or the tension between desires and affordability.

The Pictionary segment added a sense of teamwork and fun. Children were divided into teams, read storybooks like Chhutku Udd Chala, and then illustrated scenes for their peers to guess—encouraging visual literacy and imagination.

The final segment featured hands-on art and craft activities such as thread painting and origami. Using recycled newspaper, children created birds, spoons, and caps—enhancing their fine motor skills while being introduced to eco-friendly practices.

The Bal Mela was a celebration of learning, imagination, and community spirit—leaving both students and facilitators with a renewed sense of joy and curiosity.