Mysuru: Social Worker and activist Sindhutai Sapkal affectionately called ‘Mother of Orphans’ will inaugurate the Chinnara Natakotsava tomorrow (May 5) at 6.30 pm as part of the Chinnara Mela. Sindhutai  has given shelter to thousands of orphan children, said Rangayana Director Bhagirathi Bai Kadam.

She was addressing a press conference this morning at the Rangayana premises and said that on May 6, Sindhutai will interact with children of Chinnara Mela and at 1 pm she will feed the children with her own hand (kai tutthu) like mothers do.  

She said that already 21 days had passed in the Chinnara Mela, which began on Apr.13  and will end on May 10. There will be 15 dramas staged from May 5 to 9 at 7 pm every day.

“A lot of activities have been organised which include story-telling, music, dance, making artefact from waste products, sand art, clay modelling and other activities. The children are learning new things and exposed to fresh ideas,” she said.

Chinnara Mela had also been organised in Gavadegere Government School in Hunsur Taluk where 90 children from neighbouring villages participated and also at Ashrama School in D.B. Kuppe haadi of H.D. Kote taluk where 40 children participated, she said.

Nearly 300 children in the age group of 9 to 14 were taken to the tribal haadis in two batches of 150 each to spend time with the tribal children of Manumule Haadi in D.B. Kuppe. They were also taken to Kakanakote forest on safari to bring about awareness among children regarding environment and protection of forests. They also played in the Kabini backwaters, she said.

Every day at least three plays will be staged from 7 pm. The following are the plays that will be staged from May 5 to 9: May 5- Huliyajja, Ajji Helida Kathe, Maunada Mathu, May 6: Kereya Chinnu, Nela Kanada Jeeva, May 7: Man vs Man, Rakshisuva Honegarike Neeve Heli Yaradu, Shisthina Pranigalu, May 8: Kaadina Kudigalu, Hatti Pada,  Dhanada Kottigeya Dooradarashana, Light, Sound, Camera, Action, May 9: Chukkigaleshtu, Granthayana, Shrushti, May 9: two plays Nelakanda Jeeva and Hatti Pada will be staged in Gavadagere.

The theme of Chinnara Mela this time is ‘Nishabda Kooginadege’ (Towards Call of Silence) and no one was able to stage a play related to theme. Hence, dramatists were called from different parts of the State to write scripts based on this theme, she said and added that there were 15 directors directing the plays that are being staged.