KERALA’S FIRST STORYTELLING FESTIVAL FESTA WEAVES TRADITION AND LIFE INTO ONE NARRATIVE

Kerala’s inaugural storytelling festival, FESTA, brings together 15 acclaimed storytellers and 14 distinguished individuals from diverse fields, alongside local voices from Ala. With 40 sessions, workshops, music, and a puppet parade at Ala Mulanthuruthy, the event celebrates myths, folklore, and personal experiences, affirming that humanity thrives on stories as much as bread.  

Kerala is set to witness a cultural milestone with the launch of its first storytelling festival, FESTA, at Ala Mulanthuruthy on 11 and 12 April 2026. Organised by ala.theatre in collaboration with the me and you foundation, FESTA is envisioned as a vibrant celebration of narratives that transcend generations, disciplines, and lived experiences.  

The festival will feature 15 notable storytellers from Kerala and across India who have dedicated themselves to the art of storytelling, alongside 14 distinguished individuals from Kerala who have excelled in diverse fields of life. Together with storytellers from Ala, they will create a rich tapestry of voices that blend traditional tales with personal journeys.  

Across three stages at the Ala campus and an open stage in the panchayat, FESTA will host around 40 live storytelling sessions, workshops, musical performances, and a giant puppet parade. The stories will range from the magical and mythical—tales of birds, animals, ghosts, demons, and gods—to deeply personal narratives shaped by ordinary lives and extraordinary experiences.  

A defining feature of FESTA is its commitment to digital documentation. Stories, interviews, workshops, and performances will be recorded to ensure accessibility beyond the festival days, particularly for students. This initiative underscores the organisers’ vision of creating a cultural landscape that extends beyond the event itself, preserving the power of storytelling for future generations.  

At its core, FESTA is built on the belief that human beings live not by bread alone, but also by stories. By bridging folklore with lived realities, the festival seeks to remind audiences of the enduring role of narratives in shaping identity, community, and imagination. Kerala’s first storytelling festival at Ala Mulanthuruthy is not merely an event—it is a movement to reaffirm the timeless magic of stories in everyday life.