Children participate in Anjali — an annual carnival in Bhubaneswar (file pictures)

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 6: The long-awaited Anjali children’s festival is back, and it’s promising to be bigger and better than ever.

Tales and legends would tease the imaginations and fantasies of nearly a thousand kids, who are expected to participate in the annual fest to be held in the capital from November 9 to14.

A series of fun-filled activities would be organised during these six days for children at the campsite — the Adivasi Ground.

The participants would get an opportunity to drown themselves in joy and merriment with gaming, joy rides, horse and camel riding, magic shows, fairy land, sightseeing, dance competitions and other activities which would turn on the creative instincts of children, said Asit Kumar Behera, project officer of Swabhimaan, a state-level disability information and resource centre that organises the festival.

Apart from this, five internationally acclaimed children’s films would be screened every morning at the Rabindra Mandap here from November 10 to 14.

Swabhimaan would conduct the film screenings in collaboration with the Mumbai-based Children in Society, the state departments of tourism and culture and school and mass education.

An inter-college dance competition titled “Unplugged” also features in the festival schedule.

Moreover, there would be special guest performances to enthral one and all. Delhi-based Ability Unlimited — a cultural group — consisting of wheelchair-bound performers, would present thrilling dances based on mythology and folklore.

Another group, Articulate Bangalore with visually challenged members would perform Bharatnatyam while theatre troupe, Shyambazaar Annyadesh from Calcutta would stage a play, Rakta Karabi.

Disability rights’ activist and chief coordinator of Anjali, Sruti Mohapatra said intensive preparations were under way to make the festival a roaring success this time.

“The theme for this year is tales and legends which would manifest itself in a colourful carnival on November 9. More than 1,500 children from different parts of the country and 3,000 college-goers are expected to participate here,” she said.

The carnival would be flagged off from the Ram Mandir Square on November 9 and culminate at the Adivasi Ground.

The procession would have two colourful tableaux and children and youths dressed in fancy and bright costumes. The valedictory function would be held on November 14 – Children’s Day – in which governor, M.C. Bhandare would felicitate the prize winners and performers, said Behera.

The festival started in 2001 as Project Anjali to provide a platform to the differently-abled children to showcase their talents and skills.

It gradually turned into an inclusive learning programme following enthusiastic response from students of mainstream schools in the first year itself. In 2004, it became a full-fledged children’s festival.