Let me take you on a journey through the eventful evening on 7th January 2023, which was the fruit of a month-long hard work by our students and staff. Our school celebrated Presentation Day to felicitate our students for their achievements during the year. Dr. N Aparna Rao, Associate Professor, NMIMS was the Chief Guest for the event, and Swami Avyayamritananda Puri, Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Mumbai was the Guest of Honour. The event was also graced by the presence of the School Administrator and the Principal. Among the attendees were the proud parents, teachers, and students of the school.
The program began with a prayer seeking the blessings of our beloved Amma. Thereafter, the guests were invited to light the auspicious lamp as per the tradition before beginning any event. Soon after this, students sang an invocation song and all the dignitaries on stage were greeted with a brief introduction and presented beautiful flower bouquets.
Principal Mrs. Anupama Rao was called upon to present the Annual Report of the school. This was followed by a few words addressed by our chief guest regarding the kind of work and quality of education imparted by Amrita institutions. She expressed her gratitude for making her a part of this auspicious event. Our Administrator Brni. Sharanyamrita Chaitanya addressed the parents, speaking about Amma’s ideology about education which is the transcendental powerhouse of all Amrita Institutions. She spoke about the transformation that Real Education should bring about in an individual with the help of beautiful examples and stories. Swamiji then addressed the parents about the attitude and the way of bringing up children in today’s world. This was followed by the prize distribution ceremony where students and teachers were recognised and awarded prizes and gifts across different categories. A formal thanksgiving for conveying gratitude to the guests was done before the cultural events began.
The program continued with the much-awaited cultural events which began with graceful dance performances by students from the primary section. Festivals are the essence of India and this was depicted beautifully by students of grades I to V who danced to the beats of various festive songs. Yoga has been a part of our tradition for eons and is practiced every day by our students, which was evident from their presentation of different yogasanas and formations. The mesmerising performance of the students truly impacted not just the body, but also the mind.
The first part of the cultural program was enriched with the essence of Indian culture, while the second marked the rich heritage of India presented by students of the secondary section who depicted saints who have left their mark in the history of India. The first act was a depiction of Sant Dnyaneshwar and his life, the story of how he came to be known as mauli by the people of Alandi who were believers of Lord Vitthal, also lovingly called Mauli. This Marathi skit was enacted through a dance by students of Grade IX. The next act was an English skit by Grade X students narrating the life of Shri Narayana Guru and his contributions in eradicating untouchability and the caste system from Kerala in the 18th century. This was followed by yet another scintillating performance by students of Grade VII who depicted the devotion of Sant Surdas towards Lord Krishna with a tear-jerking performance. The final performance was by students of Grade VIII who depicted the life of Mirabai beautifully through a Hindi skit. The cultural program was truly entertaining and insightful, and the impact was seen in the applause that the audience gave the performers.
The climax of the wonderful evening was a short video paying tribute to Mata Amritanandamayi Devi lovingly called Amma, and her selfless service towards humankind. With Amma’s blessings, the event was a success and not one person returned home without a smile on their face. Everyone at last stood up for the national anthem and shanti mantra before leaving the venue.
