The buzz in Vidya Mandir was about the annual day, which was to be held on August 10. It was ninth then and the bell had rung. The last bell for the day, which meant that we could disperse. The students went into their respective rooms to practice and the teachers managed to spare some words.The different events were going to be fascinating, ofcourse!
Next day was the school day of Vidya Mandir.
It was the 10th of August! It meant a lot of colourful events and display of special talents by Vidya Mandir students. At 4.30PM in the Mylapore Fine Arts, the students of Vidya Mandir began their annual day celebrations. Performance, reinforcing the very essence of India -‘Unity in Diversity’ left the audience captivated.
The events started off with the school prayer and the orchestra. A colourful sight with young musicians. The traditional dress of the students who wore ‘Dhavanis’, bangles, and sparkling bindhis and the boys in dhottis was a lovely sight, which brought back the heritage of India.
Then came the Middle School English Play, ‘The Sheriffs Kitchen’. Students of class 6, 7 and 8 presented the play. The script and the dressing of the students made us travel through the play.
The Tamil Play ‘Sattrae Villagi Irrum Pillai’ came next. Interspersed with dances and folk songs the story about an ‘untouchable’ who had a very strong inclination towards Lord Shiva and wished to see Him in the Temple was presented in this play. As he was a true devotee, the ‘nandhi’ or the holy bull, which sits in front of, Shiva (as a barrier) moved and therefore gives the him a ‘dharshan’ of the Lord. A good lesson about Equality.
The Dance Drama Choreographed by dancer Roja Kannan ‘Bhavayami Raghuvaram’ brought rounds of applause from the audience. The story of Ramayana came alive in the dance-drama
‘Guity’ an English play by the high school was a very catchy one. The cheer group was very eye-catching with the 12th girls and boys draped in sarees and veshtis!
Then was the official fyunction. The principal and the vice-principals honoured the chief guest, Mr. Mitran Devanesan, a theatre activist who has contributed for the Jungle Book and iswell-known in the theatre field. Prizes and awards were distributed at this function.
The show continued with the hindi play ‘Navarathri ka Nitya Sangam’ which was as bright as Navarathri. Sanskrit play ‘Bhaja Govindam’ which had enthusiastic performers who topped in the language too.
The overall performance reflected a secular nature of our country with a mix of languages, tradition, culture and moods. The talents of the students of Vidya Mandir were well displayed.