Stories have been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Growing up in Ahmedabad, I was surrounded by traditions that spoke through voice, rhythm, and gesture — the lively maan bhaat, the soulful dayaro, and the delicate play of hand puppets that seemed to bring imagination to life. Those early encounters taught me that stories live not only in words, but also in song, expression, and the spaces between people.
Many years later, in 1995, while travelling through the Yukon in Canada with my husband Samir, we met a young woman on the road who told us she was headed to a storytelling festival in a place called White Horse Junction. Intrigued, we decided to stop there, and what we witnessed left a deep impression on me. Under open tents, people sat in quiet attention, completely absorbed in tales that moved them to laughter, wonder, and reflection. It was the first time I saw storytelling celebrated as a festival — as a living bridge between hearts and cultures.
That memory stayed with me and slowly grew into a dream. To create a space in India where our own vast storytelling traditions could be shared, honoured, and reimagined.
Afsana – The Somaiya Storytelling Festival is born from that dream. It is a celebration of India’s many voices — where stories are told, sung, danced, painted, and remembered. Anchored by Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Afsana brings together artists, students, and storytellers to explore how stories shape who we are and who we can become.
We invite you to listen, to share, and to be part of this collective heartbeat. Every story deserves a listener, and every listener carries a story within.
Welcome to Afsana.
Where stories live on — in us, and through us.
