On 24th August, 2016, the school celebrated Janmashtami on the school ground amidst sanctified atmosphere. The whole school gathered on the ground around 9 am for the pot breaking event. Two pots were arranged for the matki-phod (Dahi Handi) event, one tied rather low for the students of classes 1 & 2 attired as Lord Krishnas and Radhas and the other was tied high for the students of middle school to Sr. Secondary section. The special guests were the Teaching Assistants from U.K. The Principal Ms. Preeta Pillai addressed the students and wished them ‘Happy Janmashtami’ and highlighted the importance of gathering there and added that the way each one of us celebrate our birthdays, we have gathered to celebrate Lord Krishna’s birthday. The Co-ordinator of the Primary section Ms. Dolly Patel talked about the significance of the day and asked the question ‘What was one thing that Lord Krishna liked to have? ’ the students readily answered ‘Makhan’. She then sang the bhajan, ‘Hare Rama Hare Rama…Rama…’ and the students repeated after her. The popular lines ‘Hathi Goda Palki…’ was sung in unison by the students, the next lines, ‘Jai Kannaiya Lal ki’ too created good vibrations!
Then it was time for the main attraction of the day i.e the pot breaking event. The tiny tots of class 1 & 2 were led to the part of the ground where their small pot was tied and having made a small pyramid with the help of their teachers, one of the Govindas climbed on and broke the pot having held it tight with his left hand and striking the pot hard with his flute on the right hand. The girls who were dressed as Radhas in Chhaniya choli stood around joining hands, and danced round the pyramid.
Soon after the matki-phod event of the Primary, the students of the senior classes came dancing to the tune of the Hindi popular number, ‘Govinda alaare aala…teri matki sambhal brij bala’, to the spot where the matki was tied rather high and soon started making human pyramids which was finally made at their fourth attempt as the students were finding difficult to balance. As soon as the pyramid was made a student of class VII quickly scrambled to the top and with a flute struck the pot. There was a huge round of applause from the students. Thus the Janmashtami celebration was a cute and decent affair.
