Pune Municipal Corporation’s Urban95 Kids Festival Week-2023 Began From Sarasbaug 

Pune, 15 December 2023: The inaugural day of the Urban95 Kids Festival, organized by the Pune Municipal Corporation in collaboration with the Van Leer Foundation, witnessed an overwhelming response from children and parents at Sarasbaug on December 14, 2023.

The festival, tailored for children aged 0 to 6 years and their parents, commenced with an array of engaging activities. A total of 15 schools visited Kids Festival on 1^st day, and a footfall of 2670 kids and their guardians enjoyed diverse activities such as magic shows, puzzle games, storytelling, puppet shows, floor games, parenting sessions, pottery making, sand play, and sensory activities. The highlight of the day was the endearing Mascot ‘Mau,’ delighting both kids and parents alike through interactive sessions.

Distinguished guests, including Yuvraj Mallik, Director of National Book Trust, Prajakta Mali, a renowned Marathi actress, and Vikas Dhakne, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Special) of Pune Municipal Corporation and Ipshita Sinha, India Representative for the Van Leer Foundation inaugurated the event.

Yuvraj Mallik of the National Book Trust praised the festival’s focus on holistic early childhood development and pledged unconditional support, particularly in storytelling and capacity-building through books.

Vikas Dhakne, IAS, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Special), PMC, expressed his satisfaction with the enthusiastic participation of children, parents, and caregivers, envisioning a successful event for PMC’s 2nd Kids Festival.

Prajakta Mali, the popular Marathi Actress, lauded Urban95 as a unique program, emphasizing its dedication to early childhood development and encouraging Punekars to visit the festival at Sarasbaug.

Ipshita Sinha, India Representative for the Van Leer Foundation, stated, “Pune’s expansion of child and family initiatives showcases its commitment. The Urban95 Pune Kids Festival is one such example of the city’s commitment to prioritizing young children and families in the city. We are excited that the city has embraced the theme of Nurturing Child Development and through this festival hope that many innovative solutions for fostering child development will emerge”