The Koottam Carnival is back! Returning for its second edition on April 26 and 27, 2025, at Tagore Theatre, Thiruvananthapuram, this vibrant two-day celebration is India’s biggest volunteering carnival. Organised by Volunteer For India in collaboration with the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation, this carnival is all driven by the idea that giving back can be joyful.
But before we dive into the carnival, let’s rewind to how this unique event came to be. It’s a story that might just inspire you to attend the Koottam Carnival yourself.
Why We Struggle to Volunteer
You see, as humans, most of us want to do good. We want to help a stranger, to give back to our communities, to do something that matters beyond the routine of everyday life. But somewhere between intention and action, life happens. Time constraints, lack of information, and uncertainty around how to start often hold people back.
And it’s exactly the gap Volunteer For India (VFI) wants to bridge. “Very few people actually volunteer, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know how or where to start,” says Gautham Ravindran, co-founder of Volunteer For India. “We realised there’s a need to make volunteering feel less intimidating.”
Koottam Carnival: How it all began

VFI has been working at the grassroots level through its Volship Fellowship Program, which helps individuals build community projects around causes they care about. But through their work, they realised that a large part of the population still sees volunteering as unfamiliar territory.
That insight led to the creation of the Koottam Carnival, a space where anyone, from students to senior citizens, can discover how easy and enjoyable volunteering can be. Koottam Carnival is designed like any carnival with stalls, music, games, food, workshops, and performances. But at the centre of all the fun is a powerful mission to make volunteering accessible to everyone.
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What’s Happening at Koottam Carnival 2025?
Across the venue, non-profits and grassroots organisations will set up interactive stalls where attendees can learn about different causes, from mental health to education to climate action and sign up to volunteer if they feel like it. And if they’re not ready to commit, there is no pressure to be a part of it.

Expect a vibrant mix of workshops, open mics, pop-up stalls, fun games, and interactive activities designed to help people unwind, connect, and discover something new. As part of Koottam Carnival 2025, The Uninked Poets will be taking the stage to introduce you to Performance Poetry through their signature Spoken Word Poetry Workshop. Spots are limited, so sign up now to reserve your seat and receive exclusive workshop materials.

Koottam also features Live Volunteering Stations. These are short, 30-40 minute volunteering experiences set up right at the venue. “Sometimes, people just need a glimpse of what it feels like to help,” Gautham says. “That spark is enough to make them want to do more.”
The beauty of Koottam is that it’s built for everyone. There’s Kutti Koottam, a special section for children aged 6–14, where kids can take part in age-appropriate volunteering activities, storytelling, and playful learning around social responsibility.

And for those who love music, Koottam Carnival is hosting two ticketed fundraiser concerts. Day one will feature the Sufi fusion band Mehfil-E-Sama, and on Day two, the ever-energetic Jassie Gift will take the stage. All other parts of the carnival are completely free to attend, except for the concerts.
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Ready to Be a Part of It?
Behind the scenes, over 400 volunteers have been working tirelessly to bring this vision to life. It’s a living example of what community-driven action can look like. Whether you’re someone who’s never volunteered before, someone who already believes in giving back, or someone who just wants to enjoy this weekend, Koottam welcomes you.
You can register to be a part of the carnival here.