Kerala's Inaugural Storytelling Festival FESTA 2026 Set to Enchant Kochi This Weekend
Kochi is poised to host a groundbreaking cultural event as FESTA 2026, the first storytelling festival of its kind in Kerala, unfolds on Saturday and Sunday at Mulanthuruthy in Ernakulam district. This innovative gathering promises to celebrate the art of narrative in a vibrant and immersive setting.
Grand Inauguration and Diverse Lineup of Storytellers
The festival will be officially inaugurated on Saturday morning by the esteemed writer Paul Zacharia, setting the stage for a weekend rich in human connection and expression. Over the two days, FESTA 2026 will showcase an impressive roster of 30 storytellers from across India, alongside 20 'social storytellers' drawn from varied professions and backgrounds. These speakers will delve into narratives deeply rooted in personal experiences and social realities, offering unique perspectives on contemporary life.
Among the notable participants are music director Bijibal, politician C P John, spiritual leader Fr Bobby Kattikad, psychiatrist Dr C J John, social activist M Geethanandan, writer and activist Nalini Jameela, wildlife photographer and author N A Naseer, and lawyer Harish Vasudevan. This diverse ensemble ensures a multifaceted exploration of storytelling as a medium for dialogue and understanding.
Extensive Program Featuring Live Sessions and Interactive Activities
Attendees can look forward to a packed schedule with 43 live storytelling sessions, each designed to captivate and inspire. Complementing these sessions will be a series of interactive workshops that guide participants in crafting stories from their own lived experiences, fostering creativity and personal growth. The festival will also feature lively music performances and a spectacular giant puppet parade, adding a festive and engaging atmosphere to the proceedings.
The events will be spread across three venues within the Ala campus, as well as at the open stage of the Mulanthuruthy grama panchayat, ensuring ample space for community involvement and cultural exchange.
Digital Documentation for a Lasting Cultural Legacy
A key highlight of FESTA 2026 is its focus on digital documentation. Stories, interactions, workshops, and performances will be meticulously recorded to create a comprehensive cultural archive. This initiative aims to preserve the festival's rich content as a valuable resource for students, researchers, and future learners, contributing to Kerala's cultural heritage and promoting storytelling as an educational tool.
Organizational Vision and Future Aspirations
FESTA is organized through a collaborative effort by the district tourism promotion council, Mulanthuruthy grama panchayat, and the Ala Centre for Culture and Alternative Education. Lijo Joseph, DTPC secretary, emphasized the festival's broader mission: "FESTA explores storytelling as a powerful medium of human connection and expression. Interactive workshops guide participants to shape stories from their own lived experiences. FESTA 2026 marks the foundation of a storytelling platform emerging from Kerala and evolving toward an internationally recognized gathering for human narratives, performance storytelling, and cultural dialogue."
This inaugural edition not only highlights Kerala's vibrant cultural scene but also sets the stage for FESTA to grow into a globally acclaimed event, fostering cross-cultural understanding and celebrating the timeless art of storytelling.
