Storycorner at Bookmine

09/04/2024

Hello friends
Ram Navami is a little over a week away.Sharing the link other Sudha Umashanker's YouTube video on The story of Lord Rama.Do take a listen

In this storytelling video from Storycorner at Bookmine as part of its Festival Storytelling series we bring to you the story of Lord Rama. Sudha Umashanker...

29/03/2024

The link to the video on YouTube wherein Sudha Umashanker narrates the Story of Easter

In this video titled "The Story of Easter "as part of the Festival Storytelling series from Storycorner at Bookmine , Sudha Umashanker , Journalist and Story...

25/03/2024

Happy Holi to all those celebrating! We all know that Holi is a festival of colors but who was Holika? How was she related to Prahalad son of Hiranyakasipu? Why did Hiranyakasipu lose his cool with Prahalad? And did you know that the blue complexioned Krishna was always comparing himself to the fairer Radha? What could have his mother told him?
Here's the link to the story which will help you join the dots

Holi is a festival of colors is what most of us know .But there is a lovely story behind the celebration as well . In the latest video in its Festival Story...

18/03/2024

Mar 20 is World Storytelling day and the theme is Building bridges. Sudha Umashanker chose to narrate the story of Ram Setu - the great bridge in the Ramayana. Do take a listen

This episode recounts the building of the Ram Setu-the great bridge in the Ramayana. How was the bridge built,what was it made of , who was the engineer ...A special story to commemorate World Storytelling Day which falls on Mar 20,2024 .The theme for this year is Building bridges and what better th...

09/03/2024

The story of Maha Shivarathri for the occasion from our podcast
Sudha Umashanker's Storycorner

If you were wondering why we celebrate Maha Shivarathri you need to look further than the Samudra Manthan story and how Lord Shiva saved the world

19/02/2024

The workshop I did yesterday on " How to use Story and Storytelling to heal after the loss of a loved one " has been on my mind for a few months now . I started off wanting to do a reading of excerpts and poems with a friend but somehow things didn't fall into place with each of our lives getting busy in different ways .

Then I decided to add stories and storytelling and that germ of an idea took a shape of its own and morphed into a workshop
I painstakingly collected material over the last few months and sifted through it all -deciding what to include , what to keep for later and what to file away . And then gave a structure to the workshop for which my experience as a Journalist was most helpful- seamless transitions , one segment seguing into the next etc . I was happy to present the workshop at the Chennai Storytelling Festival 2024 directed by Dr Eric Miller to an audience from across the globe .The response was heart warming .Here is some feedback
Surya Prakash GThank you so much maam
Such a wonderful session.

Rt Vasanthi RanganathanVery nicely shared .Learning to live with loss.Every story was so nice,drawing from our scriptures , history until recent times,.How the loss of a pre term baby triggered work relating to pre term baby care .You are good sudha

Via DM on Chat -a participant -Excellent workshop Your stories have taught me so much on both the intellectual and emotional and spiritual levels

Lipika Mohanty It was a wonderful session
Sangita wonderful session
Raji Reddy Grief -step towards enlightenment , renouncing self and embracing the new

Thanks to friends who got the word out .
And The Hindu Downtown for carrying a brief announcement
Gratitude to God for helping me do something close to my heart

15/02/2024

Coming up this Sunday is a work shop led by Sudha Umashanker Writer, Author ,Storyteller and Founder Storycorner at Bookmine titled" How to use Story and Story telling to heal after the loss of a loved one" via Zoom. This is being organised as part of the Chennai Storytelling Festival 2024 an International festival curated by Dr Eric Miller.
If you would like to participate in the workshop
Whatsapp 98402 47624
Email [email protected]
And the link will be sent
More details in the invite
Admission free

15/02/2024

On Sunday 11th February 2024 my Story telling outfit Storycorner at Bookmine hosted the eighth edition of Tamizhil Kathaigal Ketpom ( lLet's listen to stories in Tamizh) via Zoom This popular event which has a faithful following of young and old is organised annually to coincide with the Chennai Storytelling Festival -a virtual event that draws international storytellers and an audience from across the globe- curated and directed by Dr Eric Miller which is now in its 12th edition
The theme for the Tamizh session was Healing and Transformational stories.

Eleven Story tellers presenting a range of stories ,in a variety of styles, truly excelled themselves at Tamizhil Kathaigal Ketpom 2024 ( from L to R- Sudha Umashanker, Sridevi Srinivasan, Thenmozhi Sampath ,Vithya C Dhanaraj , KR Vidhyaa, Shyama,Padma Jairam, Lavanya Srinivas , Haritha Kannan ,
Ambujavalli Nagarajan and Banu Mathy.What's more it was an all girl's show. Our thanks to The Hindu Downtown for carrying a small announcement. We have no sponsors whatever.Chief Guest writer Usha Subramanian appreciated each of the performances and urged us to speak in unmixed Tamil and showcase more humorous stories . It was a unique experience she said listening to stories being narrated orally ( including one penned by her)
Finally some feedback I received from an attendee Sharada Suresh-
"The session was superb.I was astounded by the sheer range of genres- folk tale, original stories, thriller,a Ramayana legend,slice of life episodes of marital discord, lunch time in a school setting- all conveying so many messages and above all rendered insuch a captivating manner through diverse narrative styles by the Storytellers.My appreciation also for your comments that followed each narration. They made very pertinent observations and drew our attention to the core aspects of each tale."
As a Curator I couldn't have asked for more. A huge round of applause to all the tellers

09/02/2024

Sudha Umashanker Writer Author Storyteller and Founder Storycorner at Bookmine ,participated in the Chennai Storytelling Festival 2024 and narrated a Russian folk tale Just enough which was received well !

15/01/2024

Pongal podcast

Pongal or Makara Sankranthi or Lohri or Bhihu is a popular Indian festival that celebrates the Sun God and is a time to give thanks for the bounteous harvest and remember our farmers.There are many traditions around this festival and in this episode Sudha Umashanker ,Journalist and Storyteller piece...

28/12/2023

As a tribute to actor who passed away today I'd like to share my interview with him that was published in The Hindu's Friday supplment many moons ago . I remember him arriving on time for the interview , having no starry airs or pretences and coming across as a simple, down to earth human being .He did a lot of good work for the South Indian Artistes Association in terms of raising funds and initiating welfare projects . Indeed sad that his health deteriorated in the way it did and that his political foray didn't take off after a point . Prayers for his Atma Shanti

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas to all friends celebrating! Here's the Christmas story from my podcast

While Christmas celebrations have become more commercial and tend to focus on presents, gifts and goodies in this episode Sudha Umashanker Journalist and Storyteller focuses on the true significance of Christmas- the birth of baby Jesus in a stable, the visit of the shepherds who heard the news from...

23/12/2023

The story behind Vaikunta ekadesi which falls today.An important day for Vaishnavites -followers of Lord Vishnu From our podcast Sudha Umashanker 's Storycorner
The day when the Swarga Vaasal or the gates of Heaven are open.
And night shows screening mythological films used to be held

Vaikunta Ekadesi is a very important festival for followers of Lord Vishnu.In this episode Sudha Umashanker tells you the story around this festival and explains the significance around the many rituals

26/11/2023

Happy to share the Karthigai Deepam story from my podcast. This version is based on the Thiruvannamalai temple website text and is in Tamizh

What is the significance of Karthigai deepam which we celebrate in the Tamil month of Karthigai ?.What happened between Shiva and Parvathi that day? And why do we light countless diyas to mark the festival. Sudha Umashanker tells you the story in Tamil which has been adapted from the Thiruvannamalai...

18/11/2023

Here's the latest episode from Sudha Umashanker's podcast

This is the story of how Karthikeya the warrior God took birth and how he fulfilled his mission of vanquishing the mighty asura Soorapadman. This is why this battle celebrated as a festival is called the Soorasamharam. Adapted from Amar Chitra Katha 's publication Karttikeya

18/11/2023

This is the story of how Karthikeya the warrior God took birth and how he fulfilled his mission of vanquishing the mighty asura Soorapadman. This is why this battle celebrated as a festival is called the Soorasamharam. Adapted from Amar Chitra Katha 's publication Karttikeya

10/11/2023

My offering for Deepavali- the story of why we celebrate the festival from my podcast

There are at least two stories that tell us why we celebrate Deepavali. The slaying of the demon Narakasura and the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after killing Ravana.Who was Narakasura? What was the boon he received? How was he born? At whose hands did he die? And why do we follow the various ritu...

22/10/2023

Navarathri celebrates the female energy, the Universal mother Durga akaJagadamba.Over the nine days and nights she vanquished many demons.This one describes how she overpowered Mahishasura

The festival of Navarathri celebrates the female energy ,the mother of the Universe known variously as Durga or Jagadamba. Over the nine days and nights many demons are destroyed. This episode describes how Durga vanquished Mahishasura

22/10/2023

The festival of Navaratri spanning over nine days and nights celebrates Ma Durga, her valour, courage and numerous forms and reminds us of the triumph of good over evil .This episode tells you more

22/10/2023

This is a story from the Ganesha purana. It is about how a simple blade of grass was used to teach a lesson to a king and prove a point to a sage's wife by Lord Ganesha

18/09/2023

My offering for Lord Ganesha's birthday- a story from the Ganesha purana ,uploaded in my podcast Do take a listen.
Happy Ganesh Chathurthi

This is a story from the Ganesha purana. It is about how a simple blade of grass was used to teach a lesson to a king and prove a point to a sage's wife by Lord Ganesha

10/09/2023

https://anchor.fm/sudha-umashanker/episodes/Lord-Krishna-is-born-e2914nb

The birth of Lord Krishna ,the butter thief,the ever mischievous child is celebrated in a grand manner by devotees. But did you know that even before He was born He and his parents had to face many obstacles! Kansa vowed to kill this child as soon as He was born but how did Krishna escape his clutch...

10/09/2023

https://anchor.fm/sudha-umashanker/episodes/Lord-Krishna-is-born-e2914nb
Please listen to my podcast

The birth of Lord Krishna ,the butter thief,the ever mischievous child is celebrated in a grand manner by devotees. But did you know that even before He was born He and his parents had to face many obstacles! Kansa vowed to kill this child as soon as He was born but how did Krishna escape his clutch...

19/08/2023

06/08/2023

A special event for Madras Week A new heritage walk Led by Sudha Umashanker

03/06/2023

Today is Vaikasi Visagam
Vaikasi is the current month according to the Hindu almanac and Visagam is the star under which Karthikeya aka Skanda , Kumara , Shanmada ( the six faced ) manifested .There was purpose for His birth He is a warrior God with a peacock for his mount and a rooster for his banner .You can listen to the story around His birth in the most recent episode of my podcast: Lord Karthikeya's birthday

Lord Karthikeya's birthday is celebrated as Vaikasi Visagam in India. Known variously as Shadanana, Skanda,Kumara or Muruga ,Karthikeya was born for a very special purpose. The story of His birth is equally interesting. Listen on to Sudha Umashanker 's narration for more

10/02/2023

Storycorner at Bookmine is privileged to be hosting and curating this very popular and much loved Storytelling event in Tamizh this Sunday 12th Feb 2023
Will be held virtually
To coincide with the Chennai Storytelling Festival 2023 an International event directed by Dr Eric Miller - and one that has grown to be bigger and better , showcasing the finest talent from across the world including teachers, artists , therapists and Storytellers - just about everyone who uses Storytelling in some form or the other