Students participate in various events during the Bal Mela at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khurda Road, in Bhubaneswar.Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 21: The spirit of childhood was celebrated during the Bal Mela (children’s fete), which was organised over the weekend at two separate venues in the city.

About 60 kids from an orphanage called Adruta Children’s Home in Mancheswar had a frolicking time at the fete, which was organised by the East Coast Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation (ECoRWWO) at Rail Kunj on Sunday. An array of stalls with a variety of mouth-watering food items and exciting games were the main attractions of the mela.

Dressed in bright clothes, the children cheerfully hopped from one stall to the other relishing the snacks to their heart’s content.

They were given money coupons to spend on whatever they wanted.

“This mela was organised to boost the morale of less privileged children who are in the pursuit of a dignified life. For the first time, the children felt they did not have to accept charity. They could count, spend and choose whatever they wanted,” said Anita Vohra, president ECoRWWO.

On the previous day, students from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khurda Road, had their share of fun at the annual mela. Around 1,600 students, starting from pre-primary classes to Class XII participated in the mega event, which was organised for the second time in the school.

It featured spicy and savoury street food, games and a cultural fest. Stalls exhibiting crafts such as soft toys, paintings, coloured pots, handmade flowers made by the children were up for sale. “It was a fun-filled day. Like last year, we had put up a games stall in which we had four challenging games. Only a few students could manage to win so we made a lot of money.

“Our principal and teachers also bought a lot of items from other stalls. This was very encouraging,” said Class VIII student Ashutosh.

Students were divided into four categories: Pre-primary class to Class II, Class III to Class V, Class VI to Class IX and Class X to Class XII.

The three stalls in each category that made maximum profit during the fete were given awards.

The fete was followed by a cultural programme with a show of classical and modern dance, music, one-act plays and skits in which students, mostly from the primary classes, had participated with enthusiasm. Even the principal Amulya Jena did not hesitate to shake a leg with the students and their parents.

“Through the Bal Mela, we want to hone the life skills of the children who can explore their hidden talents. This one day of fun and enjoyment would give them a chance to enjoy their childhood and be free from all worries,” said teacher Chitralekha Panda.