Jashn-e-Bachpan 2026 Opens with a Grand Celebration of Childhood, Creativity and Cultural Unity at Bharat Rang Mahotsav.
24 plays to be performed by young artists from 29 Jan to 18 February 2026.
NSD Launches Jashn-e-Bachpan as Part of Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2026
New Delhi, 29 February 2026: The National School of Drama (NSD), through its Theatre-in-Education (T.I.E) Company wing that is called Sanskar Rang Toli in Hindi, announced the commencement of Jashn-e-Bachpan, India’s premier national children’s theatre festival, as an integral segment of the prestigious 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2026, the world’s largest international theatre festival.
Celebrated as a vibrant ode to childhood, diversity, and creative expression, the 15th edition of Jashne Bachpan will be held from January 29 to February 18, 2026, offering 21 days of immersive theatrical brilliance designed by children, for children, and about children. Featuring 620 artists from 24 distinguished groups, this edition unfolded across multiple venues, presenting a rich tapestry of performances in various languages, styles, and formats.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by noted filmmaker Smt. Krishika Lulla as Guest of Honour, Shri Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director, NSD and Shri Pradeep Kumar Mohanty, Registrar, National School of Drama.
Jashn-e-Bachpan Showcases Cultural Diversity Through Theatre
Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Krishika Lulla, stated ”Jashn-e-Bachpan is a beautiful reminder of why storytelling matters. Children create without fear, perform without pretence and imagine without limits and that purity is the essence of great art. Watching these performers today felt like witnessing the future cultural heartbeat of our nation. I truly applaud NSD for nurturing such unfiltered creativity and giving artistic minds a stage where their dreams feel seen, heard and celebrated”
The festival began with its grand inaugural ceremony on January 29 at 5:00 PM at the Meghdoot Open-Air Performance Space, where ambience performances created a celebratory, inclusive atmosphere. With a focus on unity, integrity, and the cultural imagination of young minds, JashneBachpan categorised performances into three distinct segments- performances by children, performances by children and adults, and performances by adults for children, thereby offering a holistic representation of the evolving landscape of children’s theatre in India.
Sharing his thoughts about Jashn-e-Bachpan, Shri Chittaranjant Tripathy, Director, NSD said: “The festival Jashne Bachpan, as the name suggests, is a celebration of childhood. It is a platform for the true expression of the inner world of children and young students — an inner world that often remains unspoken. It also creates a beautiful bond between young minds and the external world. The festival is meant for all ages, laying an ideological foundation for a better tomorrow.”
Performances by and for Children Highlight Creativity and Inclusion
Shri Riken Ngomle, Chief of T.I.E, NSD, offered the vote of thanks during the inaugural ceremony.
In keeping with NSD’s commitment to democratising the arts, the festival also invited underprivileged children from various NGOs across Delhi and the NCR to attend the opening ceremony. This initiative aimed to integrate young voices from diverse backgrounds into mainstream cultural experiences, nurturing their curiosity and enthusiasm for theatre, storytelling, and artistic exploration on a national and international platform. Since its inception in 1998, Jashne -Bachpan has grown into one of India’s most influential children’s theatre festivals, fostering innovation, inclusion, and creative growth under NSD’s Theatre-in-Education movement.
The inaugural day of the Jashn-e-Bachpan festival, featured the play Nanha Scientist, directed by Shri Mohit Jain. The play is inspired by the childhood stories of the great scientist Thomas Alva Edison. The play highlights how Edison was overlooked by the conventional teaching–learning system because of his unconventional ideas, and how his mother’s kindness and encouragement transformed his life.
This year’s edition is set to showcase an extraordinary range of productions, reflecting themes of imagination, courage, social awareness, humour, folklore, and emotional resilience.
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