Celebrations of Festivals Part fo Balalaya Activities 2010 -2011
Pongal Festivels
Pongal Festival
Pongal Festival had a double bonanza for the children of Sri Sivananda Balalaya – besides the usual cheer and festivities, they had the two Swedish Women – Amenda and Kristn as guests on this occasion. This gave them a golden opportunity of showcasing to the guests the rituals of Pongal in the traditional way. The guests were received with an “aarthi” “ manjal – kumkum” and a gift of typical Tamilnadu Handloom Sarees suitable for the festival. The Adavathur campus situated in a semi Urban area surrounded by paddy fields, the crops ready for harvesting, provided the right ambience. The ground was decorated with rangoli and Pongal was cooked in the traditional way – mud pot, firewood etc. There was a song and dance programme by the children depicting the variety of the folk dances of Tamil Nadu. The women from the nearby village joined the celebration, sang danced and raised the “Kulavai”.
The Swedish guests presented a video show on Sweden – its geographic provenance, cultutre, flora and fauna – which was highly informative. This was followed by a lively Q and A session with the children who were eager to know about Sweden. Thus the Pongal Festival in Balalaya was a Cultural Exchange Programme also.
Onam Festival
Colorful Athappoo kolam on onam day
Merry christmas to all
it was a celebration -joyful greetings were exchanged and melodious strains of "jingle Bells", "Silent Night", "Tell it on the Mountain" wafted through the air. A replica of the Nativity Scene- complete with crib, angets, infant jeasus, Christmas star-was displyed.It was Chirstmas in Sir Sivananda Balalaya Dr.Margaret Bastin FSJ,Principal,Kalaikaviri College of Fine Arts,joined the children in the celebration. There was carol singing by the Balalaya choir. Sr.Margaret in her Chirstmas message explained to them the spirit of Christmas-Love,Charity and Humanism. She appreciated the spirit and atmosphere in the school where care for every living was practised in right earnest.She enthralled the children with a song to the Child Jeasus.
