Pune’s World Book Day – Stories of Strength and Voice

Pune’s World Book Day is an annual literary festival that celebrates the power of storytelling to heal, connect, and transform.

Each edition of the festival brings focus to voices that are often unheard—stories of resilience from writers who are visually impaired, differently abled, incarcerated, or navigating social inequality.

Through readings, discussions, and creative expressions, we explore how literature can serve as both mirror and window—a way to reflect personal truths and open doors to collective understanding.

It is not just a book fest. It is a platform for inclusive storytelling, emotional literacy, and cultural wellness—where stories become bridges between lived realities and hope.

aWrt Festival – Art Where It Belongs

The aWrt Festival is Pune’s first community-rooted arts festival held in a basti—a vibrant space where children, women, and local residents turn their stories into expressions of confidence, identity, and joy.

From murals to rap, poetry to performance, every creation reflects lived experience. The lanes transform into galleries. The voices that often go unheard take centre stage.

This is not just a festival. It is a celebration of creative expression for social inclusion, a public platform for co-created art, and a step toward building a cultural ecosystem within marginalized communities.

Merchandise – Art with Purpose

Children from Burma Shell and Wagheshwar Bastis are being trained in visual art as a means of expression, learning, and healing. Their artwork is transformed into handcrafted diaries, apparel, and lifestyle products—building creative skills, nurturing mental well-being, and offering real-world exposure to entrepreneurship.

Proceeds from merchandise go back into their training, education, and personal growth.

Vridh Rang – Creative Aging with Dignity and Joy

At Nivara Old Age Home and Vriddha Mitra, Vridh Rang brings poetry, music, and storytelling into the lives of senior citizens—turning ordinary afternoons into moments of self-expression, connection, and creative joy.

Through poetry recitals, song circles, and shared memories, elders don’t just listen—they contribute. They recite, sing, laugh, and remember. These sessions break the silence of isolation and replace it with dignity, warmth, and meaningful engagement.

Vridh Rang celebrates the power of creative aging—where art becomes a pathway to emotional well-being, social inclusion, and the timeless right to be heard.