A two-day 'Children's Art Festival' is being organized in Itahari with the aim of developing a creative reading culture among children, enhancing their interest in art and literature, and developing their original thinking and expressive abilities.

The festival is being organized by Pathibhara Secondary School on Falgun 1 and 2. Nirmal Rijal, Chairman of the School Management Committee, informed that the two-day Children's Art and Literature Festival is being held with the children's mind, imagination and expression as the creativity of children is being reduced due to digital screens, mobiles and exam-oriented teaching. He said that this festival is being considered as a common celebration of children's literature, art and reading culture. The festival, which is being held under the guardianship of Itahari Sub-metropolitan City and co-organized by Bookland, Kathmandu, is in collaboration with Kavya-Dabli, PABSON Koshi Pradesh, PABSON Itahari, Hisan Sunsari, Sangeet Sadhana Pratishthan Itahari, Karkhana, Veda, Play Nepal and Kathmandu Prakashan. Chairman Rijal said that the

festival prioritizes the development of creative reading culture, enhancement of language skills, development of critical and timely thinking and practice of original expression.

The two-day festival will feature 3 panel discussions and 24 workshops. The panel discussions will discuss children's literature, reading culture, creative education, and the role of parents and schools.

The workshop will include story and poetry writing, playwriting and staging, painting, face painting, music, book-based creative activities, interactions and group discussions on children's literature. Art exhibitions, book exhibitions and book-centered activities will make the festival more colorful, said the school's principal, Dr. Gopal Shrestha. According to

Shrestha, another feature of the festival is the direct meeting of children with nationally renowned creators and artists. Famous names in the field of Nepali comedy, art and literature, Mahjodi, famous children's writers, playwrights, painters and musicians will participate.

Along with this, the participation of local writers, poets and artists is expected to encourage local creativity, said program coordinator Bikram Ghimire. According to Ghimire, it is estimated that more than 7,000 children will participate in the festival. ‘Students from community and institutional schools from Hetauda to Birtamod will participate.’ This will connect children with different environments, different ideas and different creative practices,’ he said.