ANNUAL DAY 2018

On 22nd December 2018, the young Foundationers took us on a splendid expedition down the states along the East Coast of India, which is the School theme of the year there was song/rap, dance, drama, and a riot of colours at the Annual Day 2018, aptly named, Down the East Coast in 60 Minutes.

The beautiful sunny afternoon with a light winter breeze set the stage for a perfect day. Our enthusiastic parents waited in anticipation to welcome their little ones on stage. The much awaited day began with the Krishna nee beganee baro song to welcome our eminent guests and the proud and supportive parents.

The pageant wove together a dramatised amalgamation of sustainability and culture of the the states along the East coast of India. Tilly, the olive ridley turtle along with Adwaita the tortoise, embark on a journey from West Bengal to Odisha and then down Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. As they walk along the shores, Tilly tells her story of how difficult life is for the turtles with so much human intervention.

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Soon it was time for the show to begin. The music quickly set the mood as the narrator led the way for the drama and the culture. State after state, there was a magical mix of diverse traits. The costumes, traditions were distinctive but in the end they seemed to unite in a common core- the beliefs that make for a modern India built on a firm foundation of universal values-unity and peace with oneself and with the environment we live in.

Dressed as jiggling jelly fish, crabs, octopi, mermaids, turtles and tortoises, our delightful pre-schoolers presented the Happy Water dance to highlight the sustainable development goal-14 (SDG-14) i.e. Life in Water. It was a visual treat for the audience to witness all the sea-creatures coming alive in front of them. These tiny tots rhymed their lines to bring out the difference between a turtle and a tortoise!

The story began with Tilly having lost her way during the nesting season and finding herself in West Bengal. She watches the Baul dance with the tortoise who explains the history behind it. The students of class 2 transported the audience with their mystical performance on the famous Baul song Gole male gole male pirit koro na. They cross over to Odisha, where Tilly explains the arribadas and how turtles die due to plastic pollution. Tilly is ecstatic to see his fellow turtles dance! The students of class 1 presented a captivating Sambalpuri dance, the folk dance form of Odisha.

It was then time to show the pitiable condition of life of water wildlife. Through an eye-opening Pollution Rap, the students of class 3 showcased the reasons for the pollution of water bodies on our planet. The catchy beat and the powerful composition of the song diffused a lasting impression on the minds of the audience.

The girls of class 4 and 5 presented the elegant Mayilattam , the artistic and religious dance form of Tamil Nadu, while the boys blazed the stage with their fearless performance of the Chhau dance, a semi classical Indian dance with the martial, tribal and folk traditions of Odisha..

It was now time for the finale . for the 500 participants and their teachers to take a final bow! The folk music of the coastal states beckoned and the little feet kept time to the beats of the popular song Heal the world. The students stepped in spright as the rich and diverse costumes wove together like a vast elevated tapestry! Balloons with messages of Save Water were released by our special guests. The audience missed a breath as they took in the spectacle, before they burst into a deafening and seemingly unceasing applause!

The programme came to an end with a short vote of thanks by Head Teacher, Ms. Rajika Dixit, followed by the School Song.