Indpendence Day, Republic Day, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Diwali, Christmas, Ramzan and Pongal were celebrated in a grand manner during the academic year 2023-2024.
Independence Daywas celebrated on 15th August 2023. The Chief Guest was Mr. Bharath of BMKT Schools. A contingent of the children received him from the gate and took him to the Flag pole. He hoisted the national flag and the children saluted the flag. Next we moved into the prayer hall where the children sang patriotic songs to the swaying of the national flag. It was a sight to see. No doubt that celebrations like this kindle the patriotism both in the teaching staff and the children.
Vinayaka Chaturthi was celebrated on the 15th Sep 2023. Every festival has a connection with the child in MNC. In case of Vinayaka Chaturthi, we decided to connect the child with the festival through a model of Vinayaka which can improve both their gross motor and fine motor skills. EIC children did the model in Wheat flour+salt+food colour, whereas the children of Jivikam made the models in Clay. The mesmerizing models of lord Vinayaka caught the attention of all.
Diwali was celebrated on 10th November 2023. The fancy dress competition was the highlight of Diwali. The children were dressed as Krishna, Radha, Lakshmi, Narakasuran, crackers and other characters. Every child was declared a winner. Sweets were distributed to all and a symbolic earthen lamp was lit by every parent and teacher and left on the front yard of the school. We had three judges, Mrs. Mala Sankar from BMKT, Ms. Japa and Ms. Amala from Little Flower Convent for the Blind and Deaf, Chennai.
Christmas - Santa visited us on 22nd December 2023 before the Christmas holidays. It was fun and frolic all the way. Children of MNC enacted the birth of Jesus dressed up aptly for the occasion. The baby in the manger and the kings with the presents for baby Jesus was so real that it took everyone by surprise. Santa came with lots of presents for both the children and the mothers and the joy on the faces of the children was a sight to see. We had a big Christmas tree decorated and lit up by the mothers. Festivals like this bring out the best in the mothers and gives them confidence. The planning of the skit, the preparation of the dresses, tutoring the children, and the rehearsals spread comradeship and love among all at the centre.
Ramzan – Ramzan was celebrated on the 5th of April 2024. Mrs. Nikhath Fathima Suhail was the chief guest. She is the President of the MWA Matriculation Higher Secondary School and has dedicated over 3 decades to Anjuman-e-Himayath-e-Islam – a women’s academy that educates, empowers and promotes human dignity and equality and works for the upliftment of women and girls. We had an Imam from the nearby mosque who explained the importance and significance of fasting and Eid. The typical Ramzan Iftar was served with sweet kheer and thick soup in the evening to all mothers and staff.
Republic Day – Mrs. Vimala Kannan Founder Principal of MNC was the chief guest for the Republic Day function. Children made small flags in their class rooms as part of their art and craft activity and distributed the same on that day.
Pongal - Clapping their hands, dressed up in their new vibrant clothes, wearing ‘mallipoos’ and chanting ‘Pongal O Pongal,’ the kids at Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children celebrated Pongal early before the real festival on Friday the 12th January. We have celebrated Pongal for almost 20 years. This year, the speciality is that we are celebrating Pongal outside the school, in the front yard. The celebration was conducted like Sambhavam, wherein the children and mothers went shopping to get firewood, hearth, clay pots, vegetables, rice and other ingredients to make Pongal. It was an experiential learning in celebrating a traditional festival. The children cleaned the place, drew kolams and lit a hearth with firewood in the front yard and cooked the Pongal in the clay ware that they have purchased the previous day. There were a few invitees to the celebration and the children shared the Pongal with them and the staff. This was the first time that a festival has been celebrated traditionally by the children themselves
