This weekend in Pune, wildlife festival for kids: Interactive session by ‘Taboda's Birdman', puppet show, short films and more
Written by Kavyaa Masurkar
The second edition of the Wildlife Festival for Kids, popularly known as 'Wildfest', will be held at Bougainvillaea Farms in Pune's Erandwane on Saturday, June 14.
Organised by Jungle Belles in association with the Nature Walk Charitable Trust, the festival, which will be held from 4 pm to 9 pm, aims to raise awareness among schoolchildren and teenagers about India's rapidly vanishing forests and the importance of wildlife conservation. The Forest Department supports the event, and it will be free of charge for children and their parents.
This year's edition is expected to draw attention not only for its educational sessions but also for the presence of Sumedh Waghmare, popularly known as 'Tadoba's Birdman', who will lead an interactive storytelling session titled 'Enchanting Forest Tales'. Waghmare, who can mimic the calls of over 200 birds and animals, rose to fame after his performance was shared on social media by Sachin Tendulkar.
'It is critical to instil awareness in children, they are the future,' said Himangi Vartak, co-founder of Jungle Belles and the main organiser of the event.
'If they are exposed to these ideas early on, they are far more likely to grow into responsible, empathetic individuals who care about wildlife conservation and protection. Events like Wildfest are small but meaningful steps in that direction,' she added.
Apart from Waghmare's session, the festival will feature a mix of presentations, exhibits, and hands-on activities. Dr Prachi Mehta, a wildlife scientist known for her work on owls, will speak on 'The World of Owls'. Arpit Mairal, Range Forest Officer at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, will give a presentation on conservation efforts in national parks.
Other attractions include a puppet show on human-animal coexistence by Mrudula Kelkar and her team, a wildlife photography exhibition and activity booths offering face painting, food, souvenirs, and more.
Several senior officials, including N R Praveen, Chief Conservator of Forest; Shri Tushar Chavan (IFS), Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune Wildlife Division; Pankaj Deshmukh, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), and Sunil Phulari (IPS), Special Inspector General for Kolhapur, are expected to attend.
The evening will conclude with a screening of four short wildlife films curated by Roundglass Sustain, a platform known for its ecological storytelling. The line-up includes 'Corals' (8.56 mins) by Akanksha Sood Singh, 'King Cobra – King for a Reason' (3 mins) by Sandesh Kadur, 'Caves of Meghalaya' (8 mins) by Pradeep Hegde, and 'Indian Wolves' (4 mins) by Advait Dindore.
Reflecting on last year's inaugural edition, Vartak noted that this year's festival has been expanded in terms of both scale and variety. 'The core idea remains the same — learning through experience,' she said.
'But this time, we have introduced more elements to engage children through stories, visuals and hands-on activities to make conservation engaging for young minds,' she added.
Kavyaa Masurkar is an intern with The Indian Express.
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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
This weekend in Pune, wildlife festival for kids: Interactive session by ‘Taboda's Birdman', puppet show, short films and more
Written by Kavyaa Masurkar The second edition of the Wildlife Festival for Kids, popularly known as 'Wildfest', will be held at Bougainvillaea Farms in Pune's Erandwane on Saturday, June 14. Organised by Jungle Belles in association with the Nature Walk Charitable Trust, the festival, which will be held from 4 pm to 9 pm, aims to raise awareness among schoolchildren and teenagers about India's rapidly vanishing forests and the importance of wildlife conservation. The Forest Department supports the event, and it will be free of charge for children and their parents. This year's edition is expected to draw attention not only for its educational sessions but also for the presence of Sumedh Waghmare, popularly known as 'Tadoba's Birdman', who will lead an interactive storytelling session titled 'Enchanting Forest Tales'. Waghmare, who can mimic the calls of over 200 birds and animals, rose to fame after his performance was shared on social media by Sachin Tendulkar. 'It is critical to instil awareness in children, they are the future,' said Himangi Vartak, co-founder of Jungle Belles and the main organiser of the event. 'If they are exposed to these ideas early on, they are far more likely to grow into responsible, empathetic individuals who care about wildlife conservation and protection. Events like Wildfest are small but meaningful steps in that direction,' she added. Apart from Waghmare's session, the festival will feature a mix of presentations, exhibits, and hands-on activities. Dr Prachi Mehta, a wildlife scientist known for her work on owls, will speak on 'The World of Owls'. Arpit Mairal, Range Forest Officer at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, will give a presentation on conservation efforts in national parks. Other attractions include a puppet show on human-animal coexistence by Mrudula Kelkar and her team, a wildlife photography exhibition and activity booths offering face painting, food, souvenirs, and more. Several senior officials, including N R Praveen, Chief Conservator of Forest; Shri Tushar Chavan (IFS), Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune Wildlife Division; Pankaj Deshmukh, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), and Sunil Phulari (IPS), Special Inspector General for Kolhapur, are expected to attend. The evening will conclude with a screening of four short wildlife films curated by Roundglass Sustain, a platform known for its ecological storytelling. The line-up includes 'Corals' (8.56 mins) by Akanksha Sood Singh, 'King Cobra – King for a Reason' (3 mins) by Sandesh Kadur, 'Caves of Meghalaya' (8 mins) by Pradeep Hegde, and 'Indian Wolves' (4 mins) by Advait Dindore. Reflecting on last year's inaugural edition, Vartak noted that this year's festival has been expanded in terms of both scale and variety. 'The core idea remains the same — learning through experience,' she said. 'But this time, we have introduced more elements to engage children through stories, visuals and hands-on activities to make conservation engaging for young minds,' she added. Kavyaa Masurkar is an intern with The Indian Express.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- The Hindu
Fugudo, a dance form of Kerala' Kudumbi community, practised in and around Kochi, is on the path of revival
R Sadanandan, 62 remembers not being allowed to watch Fugudo, a traditional dance, of his Kudumbi community. The retired employee of the District Court, Ernakulam, says, 'We kids would be shooed away if we attempted to watch the Fugudo performances put up by the grown-ups. And by the time I was 'old' enough, it was not staged as often as it was back in the day. Certain songs were supposedly suggestive, laden with sexual innuendo!' We are sitting at his house at Thundiparambu near Cherlai, Fort Kochi. His wife, Mayadevi PS, listens intently as Sadanandan unpacks his memories of Fugudo . The couple is among a handful of people attempting to keep the dance form alive, practised in the coastal areas around Kochi including Pizhala, Kadamakkudy, Varapuzha, North Paravur, Kodungallur, and Poya among others, where the Kudumbi community set down roots. While Sadanandan is part of the team that sings, Mayadevi does both. The Sri Kurumba Konkani Kala Samskarika Vedi is working towards sustaining the culture and language of the community in the area and Fugudo is one of the important items on the agenda. 'Although I knew about it, via my husband, I had never seen it performed. My family is from Tripunithura and it wasn't done there,' says Mayadevi, an employee of the Forest Department. 'After coming to Kochi (Fort Kochi) is when I heard about it. But by then very few people were practising it, our way of life was also changing,' she says. As the community adapted to life away from home, holding on to cultural markers of home became important and Fugudo was one such. Over time assimilation demanded marginalisation of those markers and Fugudo met the same fate. 'There are very few people who know it and those who do have aged and cannot perform. It has been an uphill task finding the songs but we are working on it,' adds Sadanandan. Not a performative art form Although men and women used to do the Fugudo together, the Kurumba Samskarika Vedi is mostly an only-women group with a couple of men in supporting roles as singers. It is not performative, there are no complicated steps with the dancers moving rhythmically in a circle or semi circle. 'Back in the day, it is believed people used to go into a trance-like state or were possessed when they did the Fugudo and people chewed pan to avoid that,' Mayadevi, 56 adds. The costume is the sari tied like the traditional 'gusali', back to front. A number of Kudumbi people (also known as Kurumbi in Kerala and Kunbi in Goa) left their home in Goa, with other Konkani-speaking communities, in the period from the 16th century, to escape religious persecution at the hands of the Portuguese. They made their way to the coastal areas of the Western Ghats — Karnataka and Kerala — and set down their roots. They came to Kerala and continued their way of life here. They are believed to have brought climate-resistant Pokkali farming to Kerala, and are one of the communities that practice it. They also into prawn farming. Fugudo showcase In February this year, Thudippu Dance Foundation held a Fugudo showcase as part of its Friends of Thudippu initiative. Mayadevi, Sadanandan and the entire troupe put up a performance that also served as an introduction to it. Mayadevi is happy that they are able to take Fugudo out into the world via Thudippu. 'With this initiative we are trying to showcase and document/archive art forms (dance and theatre) practised by various communities in Kerala. For instance we had Chavittunatakam and Kaikottikali, Fugudo was our third such event. We hope to be able to cover as many as possible despite our limitations as a small outfit,' says Anjali Krishna, one of the founders of Thudipu. 'Fugudo is a version of Fugudi performed by the Kunbis in Goa. Obviously the move from Goa caused the disconnect; the name is a corruption of the original. Fugudo would have some steps of the original. Fugudi, today, is different — it has more Portuguese —inspired steps and Flamenco-like spins, we don't have those,' says Mayadevi. Her foray into Fugudo happened by chance when there was an enquiry about it from a film crew in 2019. Though the project was shelved, Fugudo got another chance. Waning interest in Fugudo 'The number of people performing had shrunk, but there were old-timers around here from whom we learnt the steps and the songs. The younger lot are not interested, we hope to attract a few of them so that we can keep our tradition alive,' says Mayadevi. Kudumbis are primarily farmers, and Fugudo is significant as a dance form related to farming or harvest and their social life as well as a form of community building. She adds, 'The dance was mainly performed on the days after Sivaratri, there is an element of devotion around it. However, it was also done as a form of relaxation after a day's hard work, I have heard. Another, very different version is performed as part of the function after a woman delivers a baby. The songs sung for functions such as this and wedding ceremonies are different from those for Fugudo.' Referring to the sexual innuendo in the songs, she points out, 'Perhaps, because as a farming community, fertility of the soil was important, there was a certain degree of that and even descriptions of a woman's physical attributes.' The songs that they perform to today have been 'sanitised' to some extent. 'When we practice, some of the women ask to take out some lines. Sometimes the innuendo escapes me!' she adds laughing. Today Fugudo is 'performed' as part of cultural programmes to keep it alive, 'We cannot afford to be insulated now, we need to move into performance spaces,' Mayadevi says. The troupe comprises 16-odd members, all from the Kudumbi community, mostly women, a couple of men (who provide the vocals) and a few children. 'Fugudo belongs to our community, it is part of our heritage,' Mayadevi reiterates in response to a question about other communities performing Fugudo.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- The Hindu
A dedicated village for mahouts, the unsung heroes of elephant conservation in the Nilgiris
For ages, the mahouts and 'kavadis' in Udhagamandalam lived in dilapidated houses with minimum facilities. Last week, however, at the heart of the Theppakadu Elephant Camp, the more than 40 mahout and 'kavadi' families, which take care of the camp's elephants, were busy moving into their new homes. In between preparing for Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's visit to the camp on May 13, the mahouts spoke to journalists about how the newly constructed houses, a stone's throw away from the main elephant camp, is a step towards ensuring the safety and welfare of the Forest Department's most understated cadre. 'We live in the settlements around the camp, in dilapidated houses that lack sanitation and amenities. These newly constructed houses are a welcome relief, especially if we need to rush to the camp in the evening hours, when wildlife movement is high,' said a mahout. Streets named after elephants This village, said to be the 'first dedicated township', has 44 houses built with modern techniques and comforts for mahouts, 'kavadis', and their families, with the 'cultural sensitivities' of the Adivasis factored in. The streets are named after famed camp elephants and there are volleyball courts and playing areas for the children of the 'elephant whisperers', including Bomman and Bellie, the couple who have gained international fame for their role as protagonists in the Oscar-winning documentary of the same name, released in 2022. While the documentary has undoubtedly shone the spotlight on the mahouts and 'kavadis' of the Theppakadu Elephant Camp, Forest Department officials say improving the lives of the staff members has been a matter of concern for the department. Both Bomman and Bellie were present at the inauguration of the village. They were happy that they had met the Chief Minister and the township had been opened in the camp. Speaking to The Hindu, Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra said the project, 'the brain-child of the Chief Minister and Supriya Sahu, Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests,' would greatly benefit the mahouts and 'kavadis', who have deserved dedicated housing. 'The mahouts and 'kavadis' are at the lowest rung of the Forest Department, but they are the front-line workers who look after and train captive elephants that are used in a number of roles, including minimising negative human-animal interactions,' he said. The families consulted He said that as there was no housing for these workers, the Chief Minister announced the construction of houses for the mahouts and 'kavadis' at the Theppakadu and Kozhikamuthu Elephant Camps in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. 'What is unique is that they were consulted when the houses were designed and built to factor in their basic requirements.' Senior officials of the Forest Department say that the proximity of the village to the camp would help increase its operational efficiency. 'Most of the mahouts and 'kavadis' work 16-18 hours a day. In case an elephant is sick, it will be convenient for them to attend to it as their houses are a few hundred metres away,' says an official attached to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. The mahouts and 'kavadis' will be allowed to stay in the houses until retirement, officials said. According to Ms. Sahu, the initiative celebrated the 'unsung heroes of elephant conservation in Tamil Nadu that are the mahouts and 'kavadis'.' 'At the centre of conservation efforts are our two elephant camps, or rather, our elephant conservation centres, located in Mudumalai and Kozhikamudi. These centres serve as sanctuaries for wild elephants rescued from conflict or those who are orphaned, injured, or abandoned,' she said. 'Care and wisdom' 'This successful journey of wildlife conservation in Tamil Nadu would not have been possible without the tireless dedication of mahouts and 'kavadis' from indigenous tribal communities who have nurtured generations of elephants with unmatched care and wisdom. They are not merely handlers but lifelong custodians of elephants,' Ms. Sahu told The Hindu in a statement. Mahout villages have been established at both centres, at a cost of ₹9.1 crore, to 'foster dignity, belonging, and a shared commitment to elephant conservation. This will ensure that both elephants and their guardians thrive side by side, taking elephant conservation initiatives forward,' she added.
