15 years on, Chinnara mela stands out

Enhancing creativity

Summer camps number more than 100 in the city. All claim to be the best for children. One such summer camp is Rangayana’s Chinnara mela, which is growing from strength to strength since 15 years, writes S Shivaranjini

Gone are the days when children had to pack their bags to grandparent’s place for summer vacation. Along with recent trends of life to provide a better knowledgeable platform for their children, parents try hard to get them a proper foundation.  So summer camps are chosen by parents to provide the ideal foundation.

It was Rangayana, that first  came out with the idea of summer camp ‘Chinnara mela’ in the city. It has witnessed huge success with number of children increasing every year.  

Rangayana director B V Rajaram says, “Camps are getting commercialised nowadays. Many organisations conduct camps for children. Camps must help children spend time creatively and not miserably.”

At the inauguration of Chinnara mela 2012, Rajaram’s first words to children were, “Forget all your worries about academics and do what you were not allowed to do at school or home. There are no restrictions here for your shouts and screams.” Chinnara mela stands unique due to the artistic touch given to each activity.  Every year a new concept is planned. 

This year the theme is - ‘kai kai hidiri, kathe kelona nadiri’.  The theme speaks the importance of stories to be known by children. “Present generation has least or no experience of listening to stories. They are either given a comic book or watch cartoons on TV. At this year’s Chinnara mela, we want children to experience fantasy world, which has been snatched from them,” Rajaram adds.

Children’s words

“Every day we are taught group songs, physical exercises, yoga and dance. It is a very good experience to be in Chinnara Mela,” children of the group of age 12 said.

While many are repeaters in the mela, there are more inclusions of new participants every year. They say, “We never thought it would be so great to attend a camp in summer.”

The camp from April 11 to May 13 would include ‘Parisara nadige’ (nature walk in Kukkarahalli lake). There is a programme to plant saplings by each participant.
Every day, theatre artiste are roped in to tell stories to children. This includes an interaction between story tellers and children.


“It is a challenging task to tell a story to children that too in such a large number of 325. We might be scholars, but the task of answering children’s questions is difficult,” says Rajaram.
Students who have participated in the camp previously are made to interact with newcomers.

‘Shikara Surya’ and ‘Narigaligeke Kodide’ plays are performed on weekends by Rangayana artistes for children.

Folk fest

‘Folk fest’ is on May 1, which is an exhibition of folk arts and culture. Awareness programmes on traffic, fire safety are also conducted. Live demonstration of  snakes and other animals and insects are shown.

There is an excursion to Kokkare Bellur for participants. ‘Children’s fair’ is held where children sell and get an unique experience. Mothers would feed children in the moonlight on May 5 as part of International Mother’s Day celebrations.  The last few days would be for performing folk dance, songs and plays learnt by them.  Children are also introduced to folk games.

The first week is aimed to make children feel comfortable at the camp.  It would help many children who are introverts mingle with camp mates. Rangayana is planning to extend the camp for age group of 14 from next year.

Vishnu V Raman, who is participating for the fourth year says, there is different experience every year. “We enjoy the stories and crafts taught to us.”

Arshita, Arya and Inchara, say “though instructors are strict, they are friendly with us and make us learn while we play. Kannada is given importance which is disappearing from our society. We are taught folk songs. Any thing taught to us, the teachers involve as one among us and teach.”

About 10 theatre artistes direct each group along with theatre school students assisting them.
Rajaram says, “Children’s passion is to be understood. We have to strive to make children as they want and as not what we want them to be. Children here learn many activities which are useful for them in their life time.”