Picture this. It is past sundown, and the neighbourhood street lamps are flickering to life. You’ve made it back home just in time for your curfew – sweaty, hungry, and happy – after an epic game of chuppan chupai (hide-and-seek) with your friends, who meet up every day after school at the same time.  

Whether it is a physical game of gilli danda, or an afternoon spent doodling through an adult colouring book, the enduring afterglow of time devoted whole-heartedly to our creative impulses can enrich not just our imagination, but often, our lives.  

‘NMACC Bachpan’, the Cultural Centre’s annual ode to the ‘Joys of Childhood’, gives children and accompanying adults a chance to bask in the unsullied fun and adventure of the glory years through more than 20 extraordinary showcases of dance, music, theatre, storytelling, visual art, games, interactive workshops, live Science, and more. The second edition of the multi-format festival runs from 3rd-11th August. Here are five reasons you should get the kids –daughter, son, niece, nephew or just your inner child – to step out this weekend, and into the vibrant world of ‘NMACC Bachpan’!   

1. All the World’s a Stage 
Few things can stir the imagination like watching fantastical worlds come alive on stage. This year, ‘NMACC Bachpan’s’ hand-picked theatrical repertoire kicks off with ‘The Adventures of Kanchil: The Mouse Deer’ – a fun-filled retelling of a popular Indian folktale about a trickster mouse. The flavour changes with theatre veteran Kumud Mishra’s ‘Raja Nang Dhadanga Hain’, a social satire adapted from Hans Christian Anderson’s timeless classic, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’. With ‘Tara’s Trio: An English Musical for Kids’, curious minds can step into the world of 9-year-old protagonist Tara as she navigates an unplanned holiday adventure with the winning combination of technology and imagination. A vibrant showcase of puppetry reimagines the story of Ernest Hemmingway classic, ‘Old Man and the Sea’, while ‘Rangshila Theatre Group’s SUR V/S ASUR’ brings to the stage a live-music play about a boy in a world of animated musical elements! 

 2. Follow the Music 
Curated to speak to kids in their own language, ‘NMACC Bachpan’ comes jam-packed with tunes, beats, and lyrics from different parts of India and the world. Dazzling young talent come together in ‘Azaadi - Flights of Freedom Celebrating Young Talents in Music’, with three distinct acts that bring together traditional tunes from Northeast India, Western notes on piano and cello, a range of Indian percussive instruments, and Hindustani vocal fusion. Young musicians from Rajasthan celebrate the essence of childhood through soulful folk melodies in ‘Storydust Presents Dune Delights’, while the more rambunctious ‘The SRGMs - Music Masti Magic’ makes for a playful learning experience for restless kids, with a combination of interactive music, dance, crafts, adventure, and fun problem solving. Conducted by Samantha Noella, ‘An Hour with the ScatPack’ both entertains and inspires kids with an electrifying performance by the jazz and blues artist and her students. To top it off, ‘The Balanced Voice by Samantha Noel brings a stellar music workshop designed to unlock the vocal potential of rising young stars through a mix handy tricks and techniques! 

3. Workshop Playtime 
Let your little one jump into the action with a milieu of differently focused workshops they can choose from, depending on their interests. Art, history, games, and cognitive activity blend masterfully in ‘Madhubani Ludo’, which offers participants the chance to create a DIY game of ‘ludo’ with the intricate details of traditional Madhubani painting. Similarly, ‘Warli Painting: A Journey through Art by Varahaa’ introduces kids to the geometric monochromes of the tribal art form that is loved for its portrayal of the rustic life of Maharashtra. Robotics meets environmental awareness in ‘Sharkbot: Ocean Cleanup Adventure’, do-it-yourself adventure of puzzles, clues, and exercises that sets young tech enthusiasts on a quest of saving their pollution-stricken friend, the ‘Ocean’. To nurture your child’s scientific streak, sign them up for the truly fabulous ‘Fab Lab Show’ – India’s first-ever ‘science theatre’ that combines live experiments, interactive activities, and tech-aided demonstrations for a super-fun learning party! For some groove and rhythm, there’s ‘Fun with Drums’, an expert-led community drum circle, while ‘Jazzy Groove: Dance Workshop by Veronica Jose’ gets the li’l ones moving with a power-packed session of elementary jazz choreography. ‘Sunday Bricks’ stimulates the imagination with its big bright world of LEGO brick workshop, and ‘Li’l Yogis by Sabrina Merchant’ grounds footloose young minds through a fun-filled and holistic approach to yoga. 

4. Dance Tales  
At the centre of childhood is the joy of movement-based self- expression! A rich tapestry of unique forms and formats await kids and adults at ‘NMACC Bachpan’, starting with ‘Sculpted Grace by Angaleena Avnee & Maruti by Akshatha Vishwanath’. The combined showcase brings to kids exciting stories of Indian mythology through two visually evocative presentations of Odissi and Bharatanatyam – familiarising them with the beauty of Indian Classical dance forms, as well as tales of Radha-Krishna and Hanuman. ‘Taatil by Vaswati Misra’s Dhwani’ relies on an exquisite choreography of Kathak to depict the innocence of pre-technology playtime – a great shared experience for two generations.  

5. Other Unmissable Experiences  
Like the best of art, fun has no one form or purpose. Genres take a backseat at laughter-first shows such as ‘The Clown Stars Show’, where ace jesters play the fool with imaginative characterizations and rib-tickling physical comedy – just like in the good old days! Entertainment paves the way for education with ‘Life Around Us’ – an immersive, activity-led environmental awareness programme that lets your child explore the sights and sounds of nature as they connect with plants, animals, insects, earth, and other grounding elements in their immediate surroundings.