with the 'festival of lights' round the corner, kids channels across the board have lined up special programming blocks for their young viewers. With the Diwali season coinciding with Children's Day, the shows promise a treat of fantasy, magic and fairy tale romance for kiddies. Apart from creating special programming slots, the season will also see a slew of new shows that will be launched around the festival season.

Animax, the new contender in the kid's space, brings forth its Diwali bonanza from 12 November. The channel will have a family and kids fest with seven hours of animation, adventure and tales.

'Arjuna'

Arjuna, a show based on Indian mythology, will air on 12 November at 11 am. The animated show centers around a vehicular accident leaving Arjuna clinging between life and death as her spirit rises out of her body where she has a premonition of the Earth's destruction. Arjuna is bestowed with the powers of the Earth, a power she must wield to stop Earth from being destroyed by demons called Rajas.

Another programme, Baby Ba-chan premiers on 13 November at 11 am. The animated series projects Amika’s rich grandmother's sudden demise and an unexpected arrival of a baby sister. This baby is none other than her grandmother, who’s back to groom Amika to become the family heiress.

'UFO Baby'

UFO Baby will also be rolled out on 13 November at 2 pm. The show chalks out a hilarious anime about two aliens from outer space, who arrive in Miyu's house when their spaceship crashes. Another anime show Daigunder will showcase on 14 November at 11 am. Batorobo is a new futuristic sport where robots battle each other. Akira is a Komanda, a person who commands a Batorobo robot. His goal is to become a champion in this sport. Well, can he succeed? Remains to be seem.

Cartoon Network's sibling Pogo, meanwhile, will televise magic happenings through Diwali Jadoo Mantar, a programming slot specially created for the season; with blockbuster movies in Hindi also available in Telugu and English. The channel features J.K. Rowling's popular children's novels Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone on 10 November at 7:30 pm. The story braces the adventures of a young wizard, Harry and his friends- Ron and Hermione.

Keeping the action racing, Pogo streamlines Space Jam, featuring basketball megastar Michael Jordan and toon icon Bugs Bunny. Telecast on 11 November at 7:30 pm.

The channel will also feature a unique and musical journey of the whimsically wonderful world of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on Diwali day. The other attractions for Pogo viewers includes movies such as Tweenies, Ethelbert the Tiger and Miffy & Friend on 14 Nov. The channel has also declared the day Tiny TV Day and will telecast Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird at 2:30 pm and Bugs Bunny Road Runner Movie at 7:30 pm.

Pogo is organising a contest name Diwali Jadoo Mantar sponsored by GSK Horlicks. The viewers would have to tune in while the movies are being screened from 10 November to 12 November at 7:30 pm. The mystic and magical keyword will be announced in-between the movies. The viewers need to spot out the keywords on air and send the entries through snail mail or at www.pogo.tv or SMS, before 27 November.

'Postman Pat'

Cartoon Network will be introducing five new animated series this Diwali. The festive season will also mark the premier of Postman Pat, Little Red Tractor, and Maisy; an internationally acclaimed animated series.

Postman Pat, the adventure show revolves around the experiences of a postman called Pat who delivers mail in a small idyllic village in the Lake District. The series created by Ivor Wood for the small screen is based on the original writings of John Cunliffe.

'Little Red Tractor'

Little Red Tractor, a popular animated pre-school series catches the adventures of a fearless little tractor. Young viewers can take a trip to the village of Babblebrook and catch the adventures of the little tractor, whose motto is 'you don't have to be the biggest to be the best'. Introduced on 1 November, the show beams at 11 am and 1 pm for weekdays and on weekends at 10:30 am.

The whimsical mouse 'Maisy'

Maisy, charts around a whimsical mouse with an insatiable curiosity and a "can do" approach towards life. She is constantly exploring the world around her; a vibrant, colourful version of our own world. Her child-like outlook offers a unique perspective on a world that combines reality with magical fantasy - the world of a young child to whom every day is a new adventure.

The Network will also celebrate 'the festival of lights' with a special programming block called Gili Gili Pasha Diwali Tamasha. The programming block will breed excitement commencing from 6 November to 12 November. The channel will showcase animated movies from 2 pm to 4 pm. The Network also brings forth the popular animated movie- Ramayan- The Legend of Prince Ram.

The other popular animated movies which will be telecast include, Tin Tin & The Calculus Affair, Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero, Barbie and Rapunzel, Tom & Jerry: The Magic Ring, The Scarecrow and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island.

There will also be two new shows - the eighth locally produced animated series Jungle Tales, Sabrina and The Animated Series - as part of the Diwali block.

The Network has also acquired Jungle Tales, the series produced by Delhi based Moving Picture Company India Limited. The animation series is rooted to the Indian folklore Panchatantra, the immortal collection of animal fables.

'Sabrina'

Sabrina, the magical animated series projects a cute twelve year-old with a big heart and an even bigger secret: she's half mortal and half witch!

Sabrina often "borrows" spells from the Spookie Jar and wreaks middle school havoc with her friend Harvey. With a touch of magic and a dash of mayhem, Sabrina and her hilariously miscast spells are sure to win your heart.

The Network treats with movies which include Tin Tin & The Calculus Affair on 6 November while Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero on 7 November. Tom & Jerry: The Magic Ring is scheduled for 8 November; Barbie As Rapunzel will feature on 9 November. The channel will feature The Scarecrow on 10 November and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island on 11 November and The Legend of Prince Ram for 12 November.

Cartoon Network introduces a special 12 hour programming extravaganza called the 100 % Desi Toons on 14 November, a celebration day devoted just to kids. The 8 am to 8 pm band will be totally devoted to Desi toon characters which will focus on back-to-back series, including Jungle Tales, The Adventures of Tenali Raman, and The Adventures of Chhota Birbal. The Network has also announced a contest for Diwali named Gili Pasha Diwali Tamasha.

The viewers are invited to hit upon the full names of the two characters from the series, so that the spell can be broken. The entrants who can name the two characters have to send the entries before 5 November via snail mail, CN India.com, and SMS 'Magic' - 4646.

Through the contest 10,000 winners will receive Diwali goodies and 500 winners each in Mumbai and Delhi will be invited to an exclusive Diwali Party.

MTV's sibling Nickelodeon, on the other hand, has the locally produced live action cum animation show Jadoo, which will beam on Childrens' Day as a special treat from 12 noon.