Vizag Junior Lit Fest returns this weekend with top authors and storytellers

“Books, stories, laughter and chatter: these will define the Vizag Junior Lit Fest,” says Sandhya Venugopal Godey, one of the fest directors, as the team prepares to welcome hundreds of children to the city’s most awaited literary event.

The sixth edition of the fest, organised by the LitLantern for Culture & Literature Welfare Society, will return to Visakhapatnam at Hawa Mahal on November 8 and 9, promising a weekend devoted to imagination, discovery and the joy of growing through stories.

This year’s theme draws inspiration from the fest’s own journey over the years — one of evolution, discovery and growth. The sessions will explore how stories and storytellers have grown alongside the children who have been attending since its early editions. “The fest has matured and so have the young readers who first came here holding their parents’ hands. Growth is, therefore, not just our theme but the thread that connects every story this year,” says Sonal Sarda, one of the fest directors. VJLF 2025 will host nearly 50 sessions each day, with most designed for children in the age group of four to 16. Some are shared spaces for parents and children to listen, question and laugh together, while a few are tailored exclusively for parents and educators. Beyond the sessions, the fest retains its hallmark: a curated book fair by LitLantern and set up by Pages Book Store featuring a plethora of children’s books from publishers across the Indian subcontinent. It is a space where young readers can browse through picture books, illustrated stories and graphic novels and also meet the creators who imagined them.

The line-up this year reflects the diversity of storytelling. The fest will welcome authors, illustrators, storytellers, puppeteers, theatre performers, environmentalists and social behaviour specialists. Among them are Asha Nehemiah, whose playful narratives have charmed readers; Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan, poet and storyteller known for her lyrical works; Nandita da Cunha, who weaves contemporary realities into children’s fiction; Devika Cariapa, an author who brings history alive through her writing and storytelling; and Vaishali Shroff, who writes of rivers, climate and human resilience. There are also Abhishek Talwar, Ajit Narayan, Ameen Haque, Ankit Dwivedi, Vikram Sridhar, Nupur Aggarwal and twin illustrators Bob and Bobby, among others.

Helen O Grady theatre troupe from Mumbai will stage two performances in the evenings: The Tempest on Saturday and The Sound of Music on Sunday — offering audiences an introduction to stagecraft and classic storytelling through performance.

Inclusivity and outreach continue to define the fest’s spirit. As part of LitLantern’s community programme, storyteller Vikram Sridhar will conduct sessions for government school children in and around Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram. On November 7, he will visit the Ambedkar School, engaging around 300 students through interactive storytelling. On the inaugural day of the fest, he will hold a special session for differently-abled children from the Sunflower Special School, assisted by a sign language interpreter.

This will be the third consecutive year that VJLF has created space for children across abilities through such sessions. The initiative is supported by Poornamidam, an organisation led by Kavya Poornima, which promotes inclusivity and accessibility in learning spaces. “Stories belong to everyone,” says Priya Uppalapati, another fest director: “And we want to make sure every child, regardless of background or ability, can be part of that world.”

The event is expected to host over 2,000 registered participants, with additional slots for walk-in registrations. For those who prefer spontaneity, there are open sessions where visitors can simply join in and listen. The organisers recommend that families explore these open outdoor sessions as well. “We always tell parents not to plan it like a checklist of things to finish,” says Sonal with a smile. “Come with curiosity. Let children wander, listen, talk, eat and simply enjoy the day as they would on a picnic or at a movie.”

Over the years, VJLF has transformed into more than just a literary gathering. It has become a space for reflection on how children engage with stories in a changing world.

The fest will also have food counters serving a cheerful mix of local favourites and treats — bhajji, moori mixture, cupcakes, alongside regular lunch and snacks.

For many in Visakhapatnam, the annual fest is now an eagerly awaited cultural marker. It celebrates language, ideas and the human connection that stories bring. As Sonal puts it, “The journey of the fest mirrors the journey of the children. Each year, they grow: in thought, curiosity and in their ability to see the world differently. That, in itself, is the story we are all trying to tell.”