AARTI KATHPALIA, TICKLES & TALES

Meet Aarti Kathpalia, storyteller, puppeteer and founder of Tickles & Tales. After spending 7 years as a teacher, Aarti, who confesses she never considered herself a risk taker, quit her job and set out on her own. She was determined to listen to her inner voice that urged her to combine all her three loves – children, stories and puppets! Her biggest hurdle was to convince her potential clients of this creative and effective way of storytelling. It took a while… and an undeterred spirit to get the appropriate platforms to perform and the chance to reach out to as many kids as she wanted.

Today, Aarti is a hit with the kids (and their parents!). Together with Mr. Tickles and Mrs. Tales, she transports children into a different world and makes stories come alive. Kids connect with Aarti instantly and she keeps them engaged with her puppets, props and patience. The peals of laughter, the curiosity and the joy on the little faces is what makes all the effort worth it. Her risk having paid off, she encourages women to believe in themselves and says “take a chance, unless you try, you’ll never know”. On being asked what drives her and keeps her going , Aarti says “A young boy once told me that God made me a storyteller and puppeteer because I’m funny and I make all kids happy. Those words have stayed with me and I know I’m truly blessed to have the best job ever – being with the most beautiful little souls and doing what I love doing!”