Little fans dance along with their favourite toons at the Telekids Chhota Bheem Carnival presented by Horlicks, in association with City Centre, on Sunday; (right) Dhairya Jain brought a handmade gift for Bheem and (below) Tuntun Mausi’s laddoos flew off the counter. Pictures by Sayantan Ghosh & Arnab Mondal

Azaria Newell on Sunday became the proud owner of a Chhota Bheem T-shirt, mug and waterbottle but the three-year-old was miles away from the two-day Telekids Chhota Bheem Carnival, presented by Horlicks in association with City Centre!

She managed her loot thanks to grandparents Lolita and Santanu Ray, who braved the Sunday crowd at City Centre Salt Lake for their little darling. “Azaria lives in the US. Since we could not bring her to this carnival, we are buying Chhota Bheem gifts for her from here. She follows all the episodes and when she visits us I read out Chhota Bheem comics to her,” said Lolita, a resident of Salt Lake.

The doting dadu-dida were among 50,000-odd Bheem bhakts who descended on the Kund area to enjoy a super Sunday with the saviour of Dholakpur and his gang.

While some wanted to share the stage with Chhota Bheem, some rushed to “gain strength” from Tuntun Mausi laddoos and others went on a buying spree to add to their Chhota Bheem collection.

Teesha Agarwal, Class III student of La Martiniere for Girls, was back on Sunday for the second day. “I came on Saturday too but could not resist coming back to dance and especially to have the laddoos!” squealed Teesha.

For Priyanshu Saraf, a Class II student of Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, it was the best birthday ever. “My dream came true. Chhota Bheem wished me happy birthday! What else can anyone want?” he laughed.

Dhairya Jain, a KG student of Don Bosco Park Circus, had a gift for Bheem. “The minute my parents agreed to take me to the carnival I started making the card. I spent all of last evening drawing, to make the best card ever for my hero,” smiled Dhairya.

Even if the parents got tired, the kids were in no mood to rest. Toddlers perched on their fathers’ shoulders swayed to the tune of Bheem Chhota Bheem.

“The atmosphere was so great that the kids are just refusing to leave. At home my daughter is dancing to the song all the time. Here when she can play so many games and dance along with her hero, there is no question of her leaving the carnival,” laughed Joyeeta Maiti, mother of three-year-old Ahana.

The craze was not restricted to kids, though. Dilip Kumar Basu, an 85-year-old, was having a swell time too. “Every day I sit with my granddaughters to watch Chhota Bheem. It reminds me of my childhood.”

Dancing, laddoos, tattoos and games... but there’s more on the Bheem fan’s wish list.

“I had a wonderful time with Chhota Bheem and his friends. But I wish I could go for an adventure with him too. May be Chhota Bheem and the Throne of Bali?” wondered Pratham Agarwal, a Class IV student of DPS Ruby Park.

 

“I love Chhota Bheem because he is very strong and powerful. And also because he is my friend.”

Manan Goyal,
UKG, Apeejay School, Salt Lake

 

 

 

“He is the strongest boy on earth and has so many friends! I wish I had that many friends. Like Bheem saves Dholakpur, I too want to save Calcutta from all the corruption.”

Ridhi Garodia,
Class VI, Our Lady Queen of the Missions School

 

 

 

“I am here to meet my favourite Chhota Bheem. I am waiting to dance with him and all his friends from Dholakpur.”

Mayukh Karmakar,
Class II, Calcutta Boys School

 

 

 

“My son Aradhya watches Chhota Bheem every day. I let him watch the show because I think it teaches him good values. Seldom does a child get to watch such an inspiring show. All the characters instill in kids a sense of good or bad from a very young age. And that is very important.”

Neha Jain,
homemaker

 

 

Compiled by Samabrita Sen