AWrt Festival Celebrated in Basti – An Inclusive Celebration of Art, Community, Childhood

Pune, 2nd February 2026: The second edition of the AWrt Festival took place on 31st January and 1st February 2026 at Ghenu Bhau Khese Prathamik Vidyalaya, Burma Shell Basti, Airport Road, Pune. The festival is organised by Paalvia Foundation and Bhagyashali Bhavishya Shiksha Foundation. Other esteemed organisations that collaborated for the festival are Balgram SOS Children’s Village, Artent Education Foundation, Rasathi School of Dance, Slam Out Loud, Baithak Foundation, School of Fine Arts & Applied Arts – MIT ADT

The festival was inaugurated by Aishwarya Pathare, PMC Corporator; Saina R. Bharucha, Vice President, Navjyoti India Foundation; and Mr. Omkar Jadhav, Co-Founder, Amuk Tamuk.

AWrt Festival is a community-based art festival curated within a basti, showcasing the artistic learning, skills, and aspirations developed by children from marginalised communities through sustained engagement with the arts.

This year’s edition was more inclusive, with participation from children from Burma Shell Basti, Balgram SOS Children’s Village, Purnkutti and other marginalised communities. It brought together children from basti, orphanages and families of sex workers.

Among the festival’s highlights was the emcee, Saniya Shaikh, a nursing student from Burma Shell Basti, Pune. Her presence reflects the festival’s emphasis on representation and community ownership.

The festival also placed a strong emphasis on depth and reflection. Alongside performances, children participated in sessions such as memory puppet-making and creative thinking workshops, allowing them to explore emotions, personal memories, and imagination through creative processes.

Adding to its cultural richness, AWrt Festival 2026 featured performances by established artists and cultural organisations, including a Sitar performance and Bharat Natyam and Mohiniyattam performances. Designed to be participatory, the festival also has activities such as community singing and impromptu story acts, encouraging audiences, children, and artists to engage together. A two-day art exhibition also showcased artworks created by children from marginalised communities.

“If there is a medium to spread anything to the people, then that is art. I am thankful to the team who are working with these communities and I am happy that I got a chance to be a part of this festival and meet the bright children” — Aishwarya S Pathare, PMC-Corporator

“Through sustained creative engagement, we work to build confidence and perception among children from marginalised communities, and the festival brings this journey into a shared celebration. Seeing artists, children, and the community come together is deeply moving.” — Vaibhav Paliwal, Founder, Paalvia Foundation