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Gurukul
Activities for the year 2006...
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February
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| Gurukul
children fervently chanted “Om
Namaha Shivaya, Om Namaha Shivaya” as
each offered milk, rice and tikka to the Shiv
Linga placed in a big ‘thaal’
of milk and water. This was followed by Shiv
Bhajans and a story of the significance of
Shivratri and ‘Shiv’ pooja. |
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| March |
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"Holi Aayi Re Aayi, Holi Aayi Re!"
Colours, pichkaaris, buckets full of water were
the mark of the day. All the children played with
water and colour frantically, at the resounding
music of 'holi songs'. Various games (like smash
your favourite's faces with water balloons/soaking
Krishna with colours.) were played with the aid
of water balloons and colourful pichkaaris. The
charming kids of the morning left as unrecognizable,
colourful versions of themselves. |
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| June |
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Gurukul organizes a 3-day 'Little Bakers' and
Painters' Camp for kids.
We had an enthusiastic response from the parents.
28 kids joined this camp, as professional teachers
trained the kids in a hands-on session on baking
various shaped cookies like gingerbread-man, dolphin,
star and doughnut shaped cookies. In the other
2 days. Batik T-shirt painting and frame painting
was taught. Oh! The joy on their faces as children
walked out with boxes of personally baked cookies,
dressed in a colourful self-painted T-shirts of
bright colours! |
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| 2nd August |
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Once again came the Blessed day of our Gurudev
Dada J.P Vaswani. Stories were told and enacted
from his purposeful life. We at Gurukul cut a
birthday cake, wishing our Beloved Guru a long,
healthy and wonderful life; praying that may no
sorrow touch him and all joys surround him.
Long Live Our Dear Dada!! |
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9th August |
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| The bond of love was fastened further as girls
were taught how to make their own decorative bead
boxes with rakhis for their brothers. The boys
in turn made the beaded boxes to put a gift or
some 'kharchi' for their lovely sisters. These
boxes were then delicately wrapped in pink and
blue lace, trimmed with curly ribbons by the teachers.
Each carried their priced possession for their
respective sisters or brothers. |
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| 15th August |
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The birthday of the blue-flute boy, Krishna; is
a day all children look forward to. The statue
of baby Krishna was placed in a beautifully decorated
swing. The intricate golden cord attached to the
swing as though inviting all children to come
and rock Krishna in his floral fragrant seat.
Children put up dance performances, dressed up
as Radha and Krishna with several pretty gopies
swaying around. The Gurukul teacher conducted
a quiz contest on the birth and life of Krishna
and the winners were then presented with various
gifts.
Kids decorated small individual
'matkis' and fed
our cute Kanha
with butter from them and later
took their 'matkis' home.
A buttery birthday it
was indeed! |
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| 27th August |
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Each child was asked to bring their own Lord Ganesh
moortis from home. Rice and flowers were provided
to them. They offered them to their Ganesh as
108 names of Lord Ganeshji were chanted. This
was done over period of 7 days. On the seventh
day. |
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A big boat with the capacity of 144 people
was arranged. The moorti of Ganeshji was carried
with great pomp on board the boat. 3 bus-loads
of Gurukul kids along with their family and friends
came along for the 'visarjan'. |
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| Lovely songs in praise of Lord Ganesh were sung
by the Gurukul kids; after which final aarti was
performed to our cute Ganeshji. Following which
at the chant of 'Ganapati Bapa Moriya!' Ganeshji
was gently immersed in the sea waters. |
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The excitement of the kids, their grandparents
and parents was a thing to watch. Happy to have
brought Ganeshji, but, sad to leave without him,
we all headed back.
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October |
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Our Hindu New Year, the festival of lights…Diwali.
The entire month was dedicated to Shri Ram. Stories
of Ramayan were told to the children followed
by a viewing of an animated version of Ramayana
on a video to re-enforce the characters and their
symbolism. |
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| Dandiya Raas' was performed by the kids as girls
and boys came dressed in ghagra cholis and kurtas
respectively. They meticulously followed the dandiya
steps of their teachers and danced away to the
beat of the music, well equipped with their dandiya
sticks clicking with those of their friends. They
learnt Durga Bhajans in the previous class. |
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November |
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| We started a month ago, collecting names on our
'Meatless Day'forms. On Gurudev Sadhu T.L Vaswani's
birthday, there was a huge crowd who joined us
to celebrate this occasion. The Gurukul kids came
forward and recited autobiographies of a 'Goat'
and a 'Fish', depicting themselves as the animals
respectively, voicing their agonies as people
kill them to make food of them for their meals.
The adults applauded this innocent yet forthright
message by the children to save animals and be
vegetarian. |
A special song, written by the Gurukul teacher,
was sung near an amazed audience- 'Please don't
kill, don't kill!!..
The little ones indeed taught the adults a great
lesson - one day of vegetarianism by one person,
saves life of one meek, helpless animal. |
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Children from The Blind School were invited for
a tea party to celebrate Sadhu Vaswani's Birthday
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Sadhu
Vaswani Centre, Singapore -
127, Marshall Road, Singapore 424914
Tel:(65) 63431982 Fax: (65) 63421906 Email:
sadhuvaswani@pacific.net.sg
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