Mysuru: The Children’s Festival, popularly known as Makala Habba, received good response from the kids and their parents at the ongoing Mysuru Winter Festival-2017. The Children’s Fest was a three-day programme that concluded yesterday at the Palace premises. Kids from various age groups actively took part in art and crafts demonstration, painting, pottery, yoga, spinning of thread, etc.

The Patanjali Yoga Shikshana Samsthe had organised Yoga session for the kids where they were taught about five asanas which would help them in their concentration as well as physical well-being. They also revived the traditional games which they called ‘Desi Kreede.’ Children who are completely engrossed in the modern day smart phones and apps were made to play games such as Buguri, Anne kalu, Aluguli Mane, Pagade, Goli, Gilli-dandu,  Kunte-bille etc.

One-minute crafts

Suman Chandrika, a Physical Education teacher by profession, who loves art and craft was completely involved in teaching paper-crafts to children. Speaking to Star of Mysore, she said, “We are teaching one-minute crafts.  The Palace visitors have no time so we ensure kids have fun within a short time and learn to do the craft immediately. But the children are so keen and interested that many of them come daily to learn the crafts and do not want to budge from here. We as well as the kids are enjoying this process.”

Origami

Saanjhi artist S.F. Huseni travels to various places and teaches them the art behind paper-cutting (origami) and giving it a final designed shape. Kids were seen making frequent rounds of visiting him,  as he taught them how to make paper designs like Ganda Bherunda (Royal insignia of Wadiyar Dynasty), face masks, colourful and creative caps, Butterflies, Greeting cards and other origami activities. He along with H.V. Murali, a retired Head Master, are enjoying this interaction and the love they have been receiving from the children since the last three days.

Huseni, who belongs to  Saanjhi Kala Loka, is a travelling teacher who goes to several schools and institutions and teaches this art of paper-cutting and crafts. He said, “the children are here from morning and don’t want to miss me even for a minute. I couldn’t even go to have my lunch. They want me around and I am here for them.”

DEMO ON pottery

A demonstration of pottery was the main attraction at the Children’s Festival. Govindaraju and Halesh were teaching the kids hands-on experience of making flower pots, vases, bowls, lamps, pen stands, peacocks, ducks etc. Children were excited to make such pieces of art and carried it back carefully with them to their homes. Neha, who made a small vase, was excited that she owned that piece of art which she made from her hands. She said, “I will keep this on my table and will paint it and then keep flowers in it.”

PAINTING

Ahmed Hussain taught painting to kids in the age group of 6 to 12 years. He said, “I’m teaching paintings of landscapes, nature, animals etc. and the children love painting. Not just the children, even their parents have been sitting along with their kids giving coats of paint on the piece of paper.”

Spinning Charaka

Children also got a hands-on experience of spinning thread from a charaka. Three women from Badanavalu Khadi Kendra taught the kids about how cotton is made into a thread.

Photo exPO

There was a photo exhibition at the Flower Show venue nearby, where photos of the Palace during olden days, childhood pictures of Maharajas and their families, Dasara processions etc., are displayed.

The Makkala Habba as part of Winter Festival grabbed the attention of the kids who in turn learnt new skills while they          returned back from here.