Kiran Balimane recommends four apps that introduce children to Indian culture, festivals, traditions, customs and folklore

Kutuki

Platform: Android, iOS

Age group: 2-6 years

This app uses Indian-themed rhymes, stories, and games featuring festivals such as Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi to teach preschoolers alphabets, numbers, shapes, and colours. Moreover, its 200 animated episodes and songs bring Indian traditions and customs to life, promoting moral values such as sharing and kindness during celebrations. The app supports multilingual learning in eight Indian languages. Ads-free, the app allows free access to select content, while a premium subscription (Rs.599 per month) unlocks the full library of stories, songs, and festival-themed episodes. With its vibrant visuals, catchy music, and strong cultural themes, Kutuki offers parents a great option to introduce young children to India’s diverse heritage.

Maya & Mosha – Indian Culture

Platform: Android, iOS

Age group: 4-10 years

Maya & Mosha introduce children to Indian culture through interactive stories, festival-themed games, and language learning (Hindi, Telugu). Featuring curious siblings Maya and Mosha, the app takes children on playful adventures across India — celebrating festivals like Holi, Pongal, and Eid, exploring folk tales, and learning about everyday customs and rituals in a joyful, relatable way. Parents can access a growing library of 100+ cultural stories, rhymes, and mini-games, with new episodes added monthly. A premium plan (Rs. 499 per month) unlocks full content and offline access.

Tinkle Comics App

Platform: Android, iOS

Age group: 7–14 years

This app brings India’s beloved ‘comics’ to smartphones and tablets, offering children a mix of humour, adventure, and moral lessons. Featuring popular characters like Suppandi, Shikari Shambu, Tantri the Mantri, and Kalia the Crow, the app presents stories in an interactive digital format with vibrant illustrations and easy navigation likely to appeal to young readers. It includes hundreds of classic and new comics, puzzles, quizzes, and games that encourage reading comprehension, creativity, and problem-solving. Ads-free, the free version provides a limited number of stories while a premium subscription (Rs.299-499) provides the full library, including exclusive digital editions.

Indian Heritage (Heritage Atlas)

Platform: Android

Age group: 8-14 years

Developed by the Gandhinagar-based Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics in collaboration with the Union ministry of culture, this app allows children to explore India’s rich historical monuments through interactive maps, high-resolution images, and informative insights. With GIS-based mapping, offline access, and support for user-generated content, children learn about heritage sites and view detailed descriptions in an engaging, visually immersive format. Ideal for school projects and cultural enrichment, the app blends interactive exploration with structured learning.