Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated with a lot of joy and frolic in Amrita Vidyalayam. The school transforms into a playground for enacting Krishna’s antics. It is a pleasure to watch each generation of our students participating enthusiastically in the ‘Dahi Handi’ and ‘Matki Thod’ games. This is an occasion when children identify themselves with the prankster “Bal Gopal”. Krishna is called the ‘Sampoorna Avatar’ due to the virtue of having lived a life enacting the various roles of a playful child, a dutiful disciple, a lover for the gopis, a protective husband, a statesman, and above all a truthful friend. He is truly the embodiment of a Karma Yogi.
The morning began with a Puja to Lord Krishna and the traditional hanging of the clay pot containing curd in the school quadrangle. The tiny tots of the Pre-primary were dressed up in traditional outfits of chaniya choli and dhoti kurta representing ‘Bal Gopal’ and the ‘gopis’. The Principal took this opportunity to address the students in order to convey Amma’s message. In her message, Amma outlined the different roles that Krishna played during his lifetime and highlighted living a “life of purpose”. She asked the students to draw inspiration from Krishna’s life and inculcate his teachings in our everyday lives. Just as Krishna’s face evokes memories of a blissful smile and playfulness, our life should also be lived in a similar manner – with a smile in any given situation.
Amidst the energizing thumping of the band and songs devoted to Lord Krishna, the school was witness to the joyful moments where students danced with complete abandon. Occasions such as these help us to understand the divinity of these saints who have walked upon this earth.
