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Ekya / January 31, 2022 Posted by : administrator

Festivals are my favourite time of the year. It reminds us that despite all of the ups and downs of everyday life, we are united by one benevolent mighty force. By far, my favourite harvest festival is Makar Sankranti. Makar Sankranti is celebrated on the 14th of January of every year marking the transition of the sun to the Capricorn and is additionally used to show respect towards the crop grounds which are responsible for all the food that we grow. Because of India’s vast cultures, procedures vary indefinitely from person to person, however, the rituals that I perform are probably similar to those that a vast majority of people. Let me walk you through it from the start of the day to the finish. In the Hindu culture, we believe that God comes in the form of different natural components. We have a god for most physical features, in the same manner, we have a sun god named ‘Surya’. Although my knowledge in science and other scientists’ ideals are depreciative of the existence of gods, I still believe that having faith is something that can take you a long way especially when it seems like nothing is going your way. Additionally, personifying natural components makes us preserve Earth’s beauty and treat it well. I start my day early. In excitement, I normally wake up everyone in my house and sometimes even my neighbors, this understandably makes them quite grumpy, but to me, it’s worth it if it means I get an early start to this festival. After I wake up, I have an oil bath. Apart from religious significance, oil baths also help me relax, improve blood circulation and give me a general bright glow to start the day. As the day starts for everyone else in the house, my mom and sister draw rangolis right outside our house. I am always fascinated by the math involved in ancient rangolis and its symmetry.

At breakfast time, my mom makes Pongal; a dish that essentially consists of rice mixed with boiled milk and sugar. Pongal keeps getting tastier each year, and it’s an amazing way to start the day.

After that, my sister, I, and a couple of our friends fly kites.
This is another festive procedure that we follow during Sankranti. To me, this is a perfect time to do so because the wind is normally the strongest at this time. With the help of my dad and other adults, we manage to keep our kites in the air for a steady amount of time. In the middle of the day, we like to snack on a combination of sesame seeds and jaggery, more commonly known as ‘Ellu Bella’.
Words cannot describe how scrumptious this delicacy is. As this festival pertains to the sun, we worship Lord Surya. We decide to perform some of the traditional rituals. We start by lighting a bonfire in front of an idol of Surya. In Indian culture, the bright light emitted from fires is supposed to make God happy and is a pivotal part of our worshiping procedure. We offer a delicacy called ‘Daan Dakshina’ which is a mixture of rice, lentils, and sesame ladoo to god.
This is our way of returning the favors that he has done for us. After our prayers, we eat lemon rice and Pongal for lunch. Our Indian diet has a lovely way to balance out all the food that we have eaten, making the lemon rice something to look forward to.
After that, my sister goes to our neighbors’ houses and we share sugarcane, Ellu Bella, etc. This symbolizes sharing and spreading happiness. Since my sister is too young to walk on the roads on her own, I have to accompany her in going to other people’s houses. This gives people a feeling of togetherness and just makes me happy. By now, it is already dinner time; Makar Sankranti days keep getting quicker and quicker. I eat festive food and then hit my bed for well-earned sleep and relaxation. Now, onto tomorrow and looking forward to long summer days!

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Ekya / March 26, 2024

The Hot Garlic Soup Inspired by ‘The Last Leaf’ by O. Henry

Sue and Johnsy, two young artists, shared a small flat on the third storey of an old house.
Johnsy fell ill in November. She was diagnosed with pneumonia. She would lie in her bed, gazing out of the window. Sue sent for the doctor. The doctor said to Sue, “Johnsy’s condition is not so serious yet. It seems she is unable to recover because she has lost the will to live.”
Sue became extremely worried for Johnsy’s well-being and mental health. She tried to make Johnsy interested in the things around her, but Johnsy never replied with more than a noncommittal hum.
One day, Sue was painting when she heard Johnsy counting backwards. Sue looked out of the window and saw an old ivy creeper climbing on the brick wall. The ivy was shedding its leaves in the strong gust of the wind.
“They are falling faster now,” whispered Johnsy. “Three days ago there were so many leaves. Only five are left now.”
“It is autumn,” said Sue, “and the leaves will fall.”
“When the last leaf falls, I will die” said Johnsy with finality. “I have felt this for the last three days.”
“Oh, that’s nonsense,” replied Sue. “Why do you believe your fate is tied to those old ivy leaves?”
“Human life is fleeting, just like those ivy leaves,” said Johnsy. “I got sick just as the ivy started shedding its leaves. It must be an omen. The last leaf will fall, and I will slip into slumber forever.”
Sue sat on Johnsy’s bed, kissed her and said, “You are not going to die. Plenty of people fall sick in autumn, and they recover soon enough. Do you want some soup?”
“I don’t want any soup. My time is almost up, I’m sure of it,” murmured Johnsy.
Sue decided to change tactics. She was not going to give up on Johnsy.
“It is true that human life is somewhat fleeting, but that’s exactly what makes life valuable. Do you not want to see what life has to offer before you slip into slumber? Will you not miss the cool breeze waking you up, the warm embrace of sunlight? Do you want to give up the feeling of the paintbrush gliding over the canvas?” Sue quavered.
“Look beyond the ivy to that tree over there,” Sue continued. “Even that tree is shedding its leaves, but it is also growing new leaves. It is going to live for many more years, just like you.”
Johnsy contemplated for a while. Then, she looked out of the window and smiled.
“Perhaps I will have some hot garlic soup. You made me realise that life is worth living after all.”
Written by Aahana,
from grade 9A

Ekya / March 22, 2024

Importance of Literature in a Classroom.

"Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity" - P.T.Barnum

We as humans are social beings. We can't imagine our lives to be solitary. Literature facilitates us to understand and communicate with one another in society. It helps us explore the world around us and is a medium to express our views and experiences. So it is of vital importance that the students are introduced to literature at a young age.

Literature is necessary for students as it helps them to develop imagination, improves vocabulary and language skills and even enhances creativity. Literature helps them understand the world outside their home and school.

It is disheartening to see that literature is often not put on the same pedestal as other technical subjects like Math or Science. where it shouldn't be the case.

Literature includes different types of texts like stories and fables, myths

and legends, poetry and drama or even informational texts that help them explore other subjects. It prepares students to read and understand the real world.

There are one too many benefits of including literature at a young age. It is like an exercise for the brain, keeping an individual mentally active and stimulated.

Exposure to cultures from different countries brings in a sense of respect and tolerance, a feat possible through literature. It motivates one to appreciate different lives and their ways and also to graciously disagree with something that may not be right. The different characters the students are introduced to become a source of inspiration. They start to imagine themselves in varied situations. they learn different solutions to problems they come across.

More importantly, reading is fun and literature develops an inclination toward reading and makes them self-learners.

It can be concluded that literature is a gateway to nurturing a child’s life skills more than any assignment or task

can ever do.

Written By:

Shruthi Prakash

English Educator - Primary

Ekya Schools BTM Layout

Ekya / March 22, 2024

A Day to Remember: Juniors Bid Goodbye to Seniors with a Spectacular Farewell Party.

As the academic year draws to a close, emotions run high at our beloved school. The time has come for the juniors to express their gratitude, love, and affection for their departing seniors.

And what better way to do this than by throwing an unforgettable farewell party?

The air was buzzing with excitement as the juniors meticulously planned every detail to make it a night that their seniors would cherish forever.

The audio-visual room was transformed into a place of nostalgia and celebration, adorned with decorations to welcome the seniors. Each performance was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and dedication. Each video played, spoke volumes about the memories shared and the bonds formed throughout their academic journey, blanketing the atmosphere with a mix of joy, laughter, and a hint of bittersweet anticipation.

Our seniors were all dressed up to the nines for the occasion with the girls in a blue and white saree and the boys in black suits.

But how did all of this come to be? I am a grade 11 student and let me take you through behind the scenes of this event and how we prepared for this event.

  • Many girls formed a group and decided to dance to “Paint It Red” and “All Is Well”. Everyone’s efforts are to be appreciated as they come up with new steps and formations. Well-coordinated teamwork led to an amazing performance that got everyone cheering.

  • Meanwhile, my batchmate, Lara,  and a few teachers were preparing to sing songs dedicated to the seniors. Lara sang a melodious rendition of “When You Believe” and the teachers sang a medley of songs which got the seniors singing along as well!

  • The boys planned on dancing to the song “Galti Se Mistake” and their performance was full of creativity and humour. The choreography was inspired by the original music video of the song and they worked hard together and taught each other the steps. This performance got everyone giggling and cheering so loud!

  • It did not end with the students, even the teachers chose to step into this grand celebration. They danced on a variety of songs and each song made the seniors hoot louder. Even though they had a very busy schedule they would still take time and dedicate it to the dance practice during after-school hours. Huge kudos for their coordination and effort!

  • Mohana and Arshia came up with a very engaging script which had the attention of the audience. A small game was organised for the students where they had to write something good about one of their batchmates. Everybody put their hands together and made 32 crowns of appreciation for their seniors. A video of the seniors was made including photos and videos of their dearest memories. Last but not least, our teachers also prepared a video message for the seniors bidding farewell and wishing them the best for their future endeavours.

The day finally came. The 10th of February came. It was the day - the day for which we had been preparing for days. The graduation.

The place was set, the background screen was ready, the mic was ready and the sound system was ready. Our seniors came one by one and the auditorium was filled with chatter until the anchors came in and the event started.

After a few minutes, the head boy gave a heartfelt speech, followed by the chit game of affirmations then Lara’s beautiful performance.

The girls donned black kurtis and sunglasses and danced to “Paint It Red”, which got a round of applause. The seniors loved the “Galti Se Mistake” dance by the boys for its creativity and comedic execution and what made it better was the shorts with shirt and tie combination. The dance finale was to the song “All Is Well” which got the audience cheering for the dancers with lots of enthusiasm.

Then a video filled with the memories of the seniors was shown which made most of them emotional. The dance which everybody was eagerly anticipating started - it was our beloved teachers who completely rocked the stage with their amazing performance.

Then a few teachers gave a very emotional message followed by songs dedicated to their students. The event came to an end with video messages by the teachers,  a crowning ceremony and high tea.

In conclusion, the event was successful, and enjoyed by all the students - juniors, seniors and teachers. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s contribution and teamwork. It was an emotional roller coaster for everyone and a day which will never be forgotten.

Written By:

Stutee Samantray

(Grade 11, Ekya BTM)

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#StudentBlogger: Speech Writing Competition By, Ekya School, Byrathi

As we ushered in the new year with renewed hope, Ekya School, Byrathi, continued to emphasize the aspect of being a sensitive citizen, especially during this time of uncertainty towards academics and activities of the offline school. As the topic of Global citizenship has been at the forefront of our year-long activities, we revisited the topic in our Zero Period conducted on Friday, 7th January 2022. Global citizenship is not simply defined as one thing; it is a large array of various definitions. A global citizen is a citizen of the world and as global citizens, we have to support and care for humankind as a whole. A PowerPoint presentation on this was shared and discussed with the students highlighting the importance of being a thoughtful and considerate human being and incorporating these values in their daily lives. As part of the writing skill activity, which plays an important aspect of our Zero Period on 7th January 2022,  students were instructed to write a speech. Students were asked to imagine that they had visited an Old Age Home and based on their experiences have to write a speech to present it in their School Assembly. Children actively participated and uploaded their speeches. It culminated in Children writing their opinions and sharing their thoughts with their peers and teachers.

#StudentBlogger: Virtual Assembly, Grade 6&7, Ekya Byrathi

“Our greatest ability as humans is not to change the world; but to change ourselves.” a quote by Mahatma Gandhi is so relevant in the world we live in, more so during and after this pandemic. To bring change in the world, we must first change our perspectives, our thinking, and live to make a difference in our society, community, and the world at large. The students of Grade 6 & 7 conducted the Virtual Assembly based on the theme “Exploring Empathy as Global Citizen, on 14th January 2022. The students used this platform to highlight the urgent need for every person to contribute their part to make the world a better place by being a compassionate human beings. The Assembly commenced with a prayer sung by the children and a quote by Margaret Mead, to encourage global citizenship in students. Videos depicting the importance of being global citizens, the challenges which lie in front of us, the enormous possibilities to change the world, were shown. Students used this medium to depict the power that one person has to bring about a transformation,  as a citizen of this amazing world. The unimaginable effect that a single person can create, inspire and involve proactively, was depicted through the Poem “ The Power of One. A PowerPoint presentation that was shared displayed the various ways in which children can bring about changes in their life, and surroundings which can impact the community, society, and the world around them. The effective results of keeping up the goals and resolutions as a citizen of the world, being kind, empathetic, helping out to the community, and volunteering were focused upon during the session with a video on “ Kindness is Contagious”.  In the end, students shared their opinions and goals as global citizens on a Padlet. The Virtual Assembly ended with the National Anthem.

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