Meet the Mentors: Katha Utsav 2025 – South Regional Round @ Bengaluru

The wait is over! The South Regional Round of Katha Utsav 2025 will be hosted at Delhi Public School, Bangalore North, on 15–16 November 2025.

For two inspiring days, young changemakers from across the South Zone will write, learn, and dream with some of India’s most exciting writers, storytellers, and creative educators — mentors who live and breathe the joy of storytelling.

This year’s theme, “My India, My World – I Am a Changemaker,” celebrates children who use imagination, empathy, and courage to make the world better through stories.

🌟 Meet the Mentors 🌟 

Archana Mohan
A former journalist and award-winning author, Archana co-founded Bookosmia, India’s largest platform for young writers. She champions inclusion through her movement, Not That Different, and brings to Katha her deep belief that every young voice matters.

Lavanya Prasad
An Electrical Engineer turned professional storyteller, Lavanya founded Talescope to connect people through stories that travel farther than wires. Her storytelling, which blends music, dance, and mythology, has reached audiences from South Korea to Sri Lanka. Her warmth and creativity light up every space she enters.

Meera Srikanth
A writer, translator, and Bharatanatyam dancer, Meera uses movement and rhythm as tools for storytelling. She helps children see that stories can be written, spoken, and performed — and that creativity often lies between words and motion.

Riddhi Maniar Doda
A celebrated picture-book author and communications professional, Riddhi’s stories explore inclusion, sensory imagination, and joy. Her acclaimed books,, such ase The Boy Who Wore Bangles and Manvinder’s Medu Vad, a, encourage children to tell stories for every kind of reader.

Saisudha Acharya
Author of History Unpacked: The Why, When & What of Ancient India, Saisudha makes history witty, curious, and alive. Her sessions invite children to ask the big questions — about change, continuity, and what makes us human.

Shivani Venugopal
A senior journalist and educator with over 25 years of experience, Shivani combines empathy and observation. Her workshops help children see how real-life experiences can spark powerful stories of connection and meaning.

Sourabha Rao
A bilingual writer, poet, and filmmaker, Sourabha’s work spans nature, culture, and social change. She inspires children to look closely at the world around them — to see, feel, and write with compassion and curiosity.

Sonia Duggal
An educator, writer, and ELT trainer with over two decades of experience, Sonia has authored books across boards and age groups. Her sessions blend storytelling and pedagogy, helping children and teachers rediscover the magic of learning through the power of stories.

Vikram Sridhar
A performance storyteller and theatre practitioner, Vikram believes stories connect heritage, ecology, and community. His interactive session with parents and children will explore how storytelling builds empathy, joy, and togetherness.

✨ A Weekend of Stories, Learning & Joy ✨ 

Over two days, children will participate in writing and storytelling workshops, while parents and teachers join interactive sessions that celebrate story-led learning.

Venue: Delhi Public School, Bangalore North, Yelahanka
Dates: 15–16 November 2025
Timings: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Together, we’ll celebrate stories that make us laugh, think, and act — because every child is a reader, every reader is a storyteller, and every storyteller is a changemaker.

📍 For updates, visit utsav.katha.org
💛 Follow the journey on Instagram @kathaindia