6-8 March, 2025
By Jyoti Patale, Climate change
As spring arrived in Purulia, vibrant Palash flowers set the landscape ablaze, mirroring the creativity of 46 young storytellers from the Sabar community. Over three days at Rajnowagarh, these children explored their ancestral gift—music—through Bridging Traditional Knowledge Gaps through Storytelling, a workshop organized by The Keystone Foundation and PBKSKS.
The workshop began with Pakhur Mongarai (Sabar – Birds of Imagination), where children created imaginary birds, named them, and wove stories inspired by nature. They illustrated story cards and, by the second day, turned their tales into lyrical poems. These verses, translated into both Bengali and Sabar, took flight as songs infused with traditional folk rhythms.
By the final day, the children had refined their compositions, rehearsed their performances, and donned costumes made from leaves and flowers. In a joyous showcase of music and dance, they performed their original songs, surrounded by their artwork. Their energy was infectious, their pride unmistakable.
sketch their dream birds under the canopy of an old tree!
Music, deeply woven into Sabar culture, became a bridge between tradition and ecological learning. The melodies created in this workshop continue to echo, a testament to how storytelling and song can keep knowledge alive for generations to come.
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