Worship for inner peace & strength marks Puja

Shri Shikshayatan School

Goddess Durga is worshipped in various ways all over the country. It's this diversity that inspired Shri Shikshayatan School to celebrate Durgotsav, a cultural festival, on October 18 on the institute's temple dais.

The anchors were Shreeya Kundu, Shreeja Ghosh and Krinjal Yadav of Class VII, while the audience included principal Sangeeta Tandon, co-ordinators, teachers and students. The principal extended a warm welcome to all.

The performances began with the blowing of conch shells. The voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra resonated in the air as the students prayed to the goddess.

The performances were a tribute to the idol makers of Kumartuli and also highlighted the universal appeal of Durga Puja.

The students sang Ogo amar Agomoni and Jago Durga Dashapraharanadharinee to welcome the goddess to her paternal home.

There were dance presentations with the spotlight on a garba performance in traditional outfits. Students recited the fight between the goddess and the demon through some dandiya moves.

Another attraction was a dance to Rupang Dehi Jayang Dehi. The performers looked resplendent in red attires. The empowerment story of women was retold through a recitation of Durgar dosh hath by Subodh Sarkar.

The programme ended with a dance to Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu.

"We hold this festival every year. Durga Puja is celebrated in various ways all over the country. We wanted to highlight the diverse celebrations and traditions. We encourage spontaneity in our girls. They pick up steps very fast. So, it took them only a week to stage such an elaborate programme," said the principal.

Sri Sri Academy

The junior school students, consisting of Lower Nursery to Class V, of Sri Sri Academy organised a special assembly and other presentations over three days to usher in the festive season and soak in its joyful vibes.

The assembly and other performances taught the students the history behind the festival and the victory of good over evil.

The festive fervour set in with Agomoni Gaan. The students put together a medley of songs and dance performances related to Durga Puja, its spirit and enacted the story of Mahishasurmardini and how the fight between good and evil finally ended. The children were taught through activities to face the demon within and fight it. They also took part in art, craft and creative writing on the festival and its essence.

Children and teachers performed the dhunuchi naach, an integral part of the puja, to celebrate and make happy memories together. The enthusiasm reached sky-high.

"The focus of this year's Durga Puja celebration was to involve students from Lower Nursery to Class V in various activities to help them understand that real power and strength comes from helping each other. One activity that deserves a special mention is the creative expressions on Mahishasur. Not only did it catch everyone’s attention but initiated discussions about facing the demon within us and finding out ways to transform it," said acting headmistress Sharmistha Dutta.

Sushila Birla Girls' School

Students of Sushila Birla Girls' School celebrated their Memorial Day by presenting a musical, The Roll of the Dice, at the Vidya Mandir Auditorium on October 4.

The musical was a representation of The Mahabharat from the perspective of the women characters. The cast consisted of 305 students from Classes V to XII. The programme had the audience immersed in the rich narrative of the epic.

The main performance consisted of dramatic performances, songs, dance sequences and aerial moves amidst elaborate sets. It included key episodes from The Mahabharat such as the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjun on Karma, the swayamvar of Draupadi and the Kurukshetra war.

The Roll of the Dice was also a tribute to the often unsung heroines of the epic. It explored their stories, struggles and triumphs and the depth of their contributions to the narrative.

The focus was on raising awareness about the struggles and strengths of these women, who faced adversities but emerged victorious as symbols of resilience and fortitude.

The character of Draupadi was portrayed as a symbol of courage. Her refusal to accept injustice silently and her courage to speak out against the wrongs, teach women that their voices matter and they should never hesitate to stand up for what is right, formed the crux of the plot.

Timeless wisdom from The Mahabharat illuminated the hearts and the minds of both the performers and the audience alike.

"Post-pandemic, one of our aims was to ensure maximum participation of students. As a result, we had all our 305 students, some of them as young as eight years, up on stage. Moreover, since our vision is about the empowerment of the girl child, naturally in The Roll of the Dice we wanted to give a voice to the women of The Mahabharat, who had been sidelined by the game that destiny played. This was the unique aspect of our portrayal in The Roll of the Dice," said principal Koeli Dey.

Delhi Public School, New Town

Students of Delhi Public School, New Town, presented a musical, The Homecoming, in the run-up to the festive season on October 17.

The students set the stage on fire with their dance, music and acting performances in the presence of chief guest and artiste Sudarshan Chakraborty.

The event began with lamp-lighting, followed by an address by principal Sonali Sen.

The Homecoming tells the story of a family that comes together to celebrate the return of Uma to her parental abode. The family consists of a mother, railing against Gen-Z's obsession with gadgets, teenagers absorbed in their phones and grandparents, who continue to ignite the spirit of Durga Puja in their grandchildren.

The musical is also about the demons that lie within us in the form of insecurities, vices and malice. As the chronicle continues, the audience is told that the power to fight such negatives also lies within us. It is our responsibility to win over the perpetual battles in our daily lives. That is how we show our reverence to the goddess.

The tussle between good and evil is staged through dances and music. The students also used an orchestra that made the audience instantly tap their feet.

Some of the dance forms displayed were garba, dhunuchi naach, kalaripayattu and Manipuri dance.

"Durga Puja is a special festival for all. However, we also need to look inside us to identify the demons within and draw upon our inner strength to drive them away. Hence the title, Homecoming. We sent a strong message to our audience," said the principal.

B.D. Memorial Junior School

If you thought middle and high school had all the fun in fests, think again. B.D. Memorial Junior School hosted its inaugural kindergarten fest, Anandam, in September to give the tots a platform to showcase their talent and become more confident.

Seventeen pre-schools signed up for a host of events that was up for grabs. The participating kids and the audience were bursting with enthusiasm as they took part in an echo fashion walk, non-fire cooking, elocution and art and craft sessions, among other activities.

The parents also teamed up with the kids in several activities. Each child went home with a gift. There was a lot of cheering and bonding throughout the day. The guests included many educators and heads of pre-schools.

The occasion provided a platform for the educators to interact with each other in several discussions and learn from each other's experiences.

"Anandam promoted the collaborative spirit amongst pre-schools, and I sincerely believe that collaboration is the key to success," said Suman Sood, director and principal, B.D. Memorial Junior School and national core committee member of the Early Childhood Association.

Seth Soorajmull Jalan Balika Vidyalaya

Seth Soorajmull Jalan Balika Vidyalaya observed World Post Day at their school auditorium on October 9. When emails and messages had replaced the conventional modes of communication through letters and postcards, students, teachers and staff members of the school made an effort to bring alive the bygone era through storytelling and activities.

Principal Nupur Banerjee explained to the children, with the help of a short presentation, the significance and evolution of the Indian Post. She shared with them the history of post offices and how their utility has changed with time.

Students of Classes VI and VII listened with attention as they learned about the evolution of the mail delivery system and the ways in which post offices would continue to connect people around the world.

To commemorate the day, Classes VI and VII, teachers and staff members wrote letters to their parents and loved ones and posted them in handmade post boxes. It was a proud and memorable moment for the students. The celebration was meant to connect the Gen Z to a living heritage.

"Our younger generation only know about digital and social media communication. They have no idea about postcards or inland letters that people used to send each other. It's our duty to enlighten them," said the principal.