At the heart of South Delhi, in a quaint park, as the sun begins to set and the winter breeze gradually sets in, three young neurodivergent artists, aged 14 and 17, will settle down with their canvases and paints. Their students? More than 50 people who have signed up to learn abstract art from them.

For these young artists, the Diwali Art Mela is more than an opportunity to exhibit and sell their paintings. It is a chance to take on a different role — that of teachers and mentors — and have people recognise their abilities, creativity and leadership.

The idea is central to what Rashmi Aggarwal, founder of Arts and Dreams, hopes to achieve through the initiative. She wants people to look beyond the neurodivergence of these children and see them for their artistic abilities.

"We kept thinking about how to put artists in a place where people see their talent and not that they are neurodivergent. This can happen when they train others," she says.

The first edition of the Diwali Art Mela is being organised by Arts and Dreams in collaboration with Children in India and Cure India Foundation. It will bring together art, creativity and inclusion. Visitors can explore paintings and artwork-based products such as calendars and wall hangings, participate in games and workshops, and interact with the artists. The event will also feature neurodivergent children making chocolates.

When a mother's concern became a larger mission

For Rashmi, the journey began at home. Her younger son, Pranav, who is now 14, started creating art when he was six. His paintings........

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