There were competition-free creative activities for children; sale of products to help street children, distressed women and the like, in becoming financially independent; lively cultural spell and a touch of awareness on human rights and humanity.
As many as 42 NGOs and civic right groups are taking part in this two-day cultural extravaganza ‘Namma Jatre - A Festival Of Freedom,’  that started on Saturday.  The event was jointly organised by Sichrem - a human rights group and other NGOs in the City, at Bal Bhavan, Cubbon Park.
The event started with a procession led by drum beat music of Dalit women, inside the Cubbon Park area. Children took part in clay modelling activity to design their conception of a children’s park and rope courses for adventure climbing. There was mehendi service in midst of the periodic melody and bash of music and dance by Dalit women’s organisations. The event also offered on sale some useful and creative products manufactured by street children, HIV positive persons, people with disabilities. Funds collected from the sales will be used for their cause.
Daniel Edwin of Open Space Consultancy for Human Rights Campaigning, among the organisers said that various NGOs had come together to organise the event.
 “We want to show that life is possible without commercial or competitive thinking. It is to celebrate and enjoy freedom, especially for kids, and this is an essential human right,” he said.
The Jatre will continue on Sunday, when again a procession will be held in the morning, and later a unique books distribution programme will be held.
Here, books pooled from different donors would be distributed among the participants, who have agreed to voluntarily pass it on to some other book enthusiast after reading it. Entry to the Jatre is free.