Shabad Chowki in corridor, Shiv Vivah’ outside canteen

DPS traces varied forms of Almighty’s Omnipresence at Annual Festival

Amritsar, Dec. 14 (Punjab Post Bureau) – Delhi Public School Amritsar took a unique theme “In Search of Divinity”, to educate the students on various ways of worship and festivities among the vast spectrum of communities and faiths that co-exist in India, during the ‘Annual Festival’ celebrated in the school. Tracing the varied forms of Almighty’s Omnipresence, performances were presented in the unlikeliest of nooks and corners of the school, bringing forth the message that the Almighty is everywhere. The Guest of Honouse Mr. Bir Goudgill Hod Social Science Department, G.N.D.U., Amritsar after being welcomed by School Principal Mrs Sangeeta Singh opened the celebrations with Shabad Chowki performed in school corridors, ‘Jangham or Shiv Vivah’ staged outside the canteen. Qalandar in Sufi Dargah was perform on the skating rink. Krishan Bhakti kirtan was perfomed on the auditorium stairs.

Audience were thrilled to watch, ‘Ram Leela’ under a huge Banyan Tree, Vaishno Devi pilgrimage took place on the football ground. Similarly Buddhist celebrations, Gatka, Havan, tulsi worship and Navratri dandia were presented at various venues. It was a joyous sight to see ‘ Lath Mar holi’ – a special of Radha Rani temple in Barsana, UP where women beat up men with sticks (laṭh) playfully and sing Holi songs along with flower and color holi. Scenes of one of the most famous festivals, Kullu Dussehra, saw a colorful presentation.

The rituals of ‘Chhat Puja’ or sun worship saw scenes of people standing in water at dawn and dusk in worship of sun. The puja is prevalent in Bihar, Jharkhand, UP and Nepal. Similarly, the football ground did not see kicks but dainty maidens molding stars, moon and sun from cowdung paste for Durga puja of navratris prevalent as ‘Sanjhi’ in rural parts of Punjab and Haryana. The Basketball court saw enacting of scenes from the Bhakti Movement while the canteen area was full of Christmas joy, frolic and gaiety.