Saturday, June 11 2005 15:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Once upon a time... For everyone who loves a good tale (and who doesn't?), here is cause for cheer. Kathotsava, the first international storytelling festival in India, will be held in the city, from June 24 to July 10.

Organised by non-profit organisation Kathalaya Trust, the festival will feature both national and international storytelling forms. From the Afro-American 'Mama' Nomusa Xaba, with her unique style using rap music and African percussion instruments to Jayamma from Malavalli with the Burrakatha, each storyteller will bring their own flavour into the event.

The international storytellers include the Gaishi Puppet Theatre, the Japanese troupe famous for using their bare hands in the form of human figures and Britain's ace storyteller Ben Haggarty.

Costa Rican Edgar Ortiz, who is in India on UNESCO's Promotion of Arts programme, will intersperse storytelling with music from his little ten-stringed guitar, the 'Charango'.

He even has a story to explain the size of the instrument, ''In South America, the Indians were not allowed to play the guitar. So they invented a small one which could be hidden under their ponchos the moment they saw Spaniards coming.''

The national artistes will perform at H N Kalakshetra between July 2 and 10.

Yakshagana by students of Yakhadegula, traditional Rajastani puppetry by Khairati Ram and shadow play by Prakash Garud will be highlights of the programme.

The Goravayya and Burrakatha forms of storytelling will also be featured.

There will be separate sessions for school children and for the general public. Former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily will inaugurate the festival on June 24.

Tickets are priced at Rs 300, Rs 200 and Rs 100 for international storytelling sessions and Rs 20 for national sessions. Kathalaya Trust is looking for sponsors for the festival. Contact 26689856.