 |
|
 |
World at Isha Vidhya |
| Educating Rural India |
February 2014 |
|
 |
Saran at Chess competition:
Saran, 7th std student of Cuddalore School, scored 4/6 and won the best participant certificate at the chess competition conducted by Challengers Academy, Pondicherry. Over 60 student had participated in the competition.
He was part of the team that had visited Chennai to play with the Grandmasters at Chennai. Even there he had given tough competition to the grandmasters and had been appreciated for his chess skills
|
| Keerthana wins Chess competition:
In the District Level Chess Tournament, held at St. Anne's Hr sec school, Tindivanam more than 250 students participated. Three students from Villupuram School won a medal, cup and shield! In the under-13 age category, Keerthana P. of 7th std won the 1st place among 175 girl competitors. Keerthana's win is remarkable as she has just started training in the sport.
|
|
|
Susil wins 100m race:
The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDATN) organized 'Village Sports and Games'. Susil Abishek, an Isha Vidhya Tuticorin student, representing Kumarakiri village panchayat came first in the 100m race. More than thirty children from different villages participated in the race.
Congratulations Susil! We wish you more success in future.
|
CEO award function:
Earlier this year, Chief Educational Officer (CEO) of Cuddalore District convened a meeting to honour the students, teachers and Head of schools that had bagged District level or State level prizes in the recently concluded Science exhibition.
Our School, Isha Vidhya Cuddalore, were one of the invited schools as our students had won prizes in both District level and State level competition. He was delighted to learn that our school was the only one that had bagged two prizes in the District level and our students would now be participating in the National level competition. He especially mentioned our name in his speech, saying that we had brought laurels to Cuddalore district by winning in the State level championship.
|
|
|
Pongal Celebrations:Pongal is the festival of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. We thank the sun, the grains, the equipments which contributes to earning livelihood and fire during this festival. Isha Vidhya schools celebrates festivals traditionally to ensure students stay connected with their roots and get equal chance to celebrate them, no matter what their financial situation.
The schools sparkled like rainbow with students and the school staff dressed in traditional finery for the most part. The schools too were bedecked, with colourful Kolams (floor decoration) and mango leaves festoons. We share the celebrations from some of our schools.
|
Cuddalcore:
The school wore a festive look with the students dressed in traditional finery. Nine earthen pots were arranged on open fire to cook pongal (rice dish). The students were allowed to help the teachers in preparation of the pongal by handing the wooden logs or adding water and rice.
When pongal overflowed from the pots, the teachers made 'Kulavai' sound and the students joyously shouted 'pongalo pongal'. Prayer was offered to sun god after which, the students and teachers shared pongal.
|
Erode:
A temple like structure was created at the entrance of the school which added to the festive feeling. The 8th std students took out 'amman' procession, as it is normally done in villages while pongal was prepared under the sun, on an open fire. 1st Std. students performed “Kummi” - dance performed by village ladies, singing about their day to day activities, expectations and gratitude to god for supporting them.
A number of competitions was organized on the day. A rangoli competition for students from 6th to 9th std, 'uri adithal' (breaking of pot hung high with rope) for school admin staff and drivers and volleyball match for other students. In the afternoon the school also held open meeting with the parents.
|
| Tuticorin:
At Tuticorin school pots for pongal preparation were arranged in middle of a beautiful kolam. Traditional folk dances and songs were performed alongside preparation of pongal. Students and teachers, enthusiastically participated in the program. Star performance of the day was the breath-taking performance of Silambattam (martial art with sticks) by Praveen Kumar, a 7th std student. The end was sweet with pongal distribution among students and staff members.
|
Villipuram:
The KG staff along with ayamas and drivers decorated the hall for Pongal festivity. Pongal was cooked on open fire, and as water boiled, the hall reverberated with the screams of excitement of the young students. Sweet pongal was cooked and offered to the Sun god.
The teachers spoke about the importance of Pongal festival. Folklores, which weave a rich tapestry of thoughts, were also shared. At the end pongal was distributed among students, ayamas, drivers and teaching staff.
|
|
|
Dharmapuri:
For Dharmapuri school this was a really special occasion as they were celebrating their first Pongal. Besides decorations of kolams and mango leaves festoons, neighbouring farm labourers brought their cows to the school to add to the traditional feel.
Several games, including country games, were conducted where the students and the teachers participated enthusiastically. Volunteers, who are an integral part of the school, offered puja while ayahmas prepared sweet pongal, white pongal and the traditional vegetable of pumpkin mixed with field beans for the offering. Folk dances and fancy dress performed by the students were a colorful feast for the eyes. Pongal offered in pooja was first served to cows and then distributed among students, teachers, volunteers and others.
|
Coimbatore:
The teachers set up pongal pots early in the day at the school. As soon as pongal overflowed on the fire, students and teachers happily chanted 'pongalo, pongal'. The teachers continued cooking pongal in the mud pot while the school got ready for a colourful cultural program.
All the classes had put up at least one performance but as usual we started with a prayer. The first item was a folk song and dance by KG kids. This was followed by folk song and dance by 1st and 2nd std students. Chotta Bheem, a favourite cartoon character, visited the school to learn about Pongal. It was a skit, "Chota Bheem - Pongal Adventures in Dholakpur.", by students of 3rd, 4th and 5th std.
4th Std. students performed 'Maan - kombu attam', a folk dance in which dancers hold deer horns in their hands and dance. This was followed by two different types of Tamil folk dances – 'Oyillattam' (which literally means beautiful dance) and 'Pinallattam' (which literally means braid dance). Oyillataam performance contained a message about the harmful effects of plastic. In 'Pinalaatam', each of the eight performing girl student held a saree that was tied to the ceiling. As the song proceeded, the dancers moved up and down to braid the saree, and towards the end, unbraided it.
'Lambadi' dance was performed by the 8th std students and then it was time for the traditional 'Kummi' dance. School Admin, Ms. Savithri sang the song while teachers and ayamas performed it around "Mollaparai". Mollaparai is a nursery bed with sprouted moong beans. And thus ended a fabulous traditional Pongal celebration at Coimbatore School!
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
© Isha Vidhya 2014 14, C.A. Theyvar Layout,
Kannaperan Mills Road, Udayampalayam,
Coimbatore – 641 028, TN, India
|
|
|
|
|
|
