1. VKV School Majuli. Took a flight to Gauhati, overnight train to Jorhat, auto from station to ghat, crossed the Brahmaputra 1 hour & then a 10 minute odd drive to school. Left is assembly hall. Centre is school. Extreme right of pic is quarters for Principal & canteen for kids who stay in school. Majuli is an island, amongst the biggest river islands globally.
2. This is the ATAL LAB, pic on right is of J C Bose. School started in 2002. As on date of visit 320 children of which 110 were girls. Girls from tribal communities they give free education. School is Nursery to 10th. Usual hustle and bustle as in any school.
3. Morning assembly. It was pretty cold that morning. It is affiliated to CBSE. School fees Rs 750-800 a month. Assembly starts with Omkar. A patriotic song of India is sung four days a week and of Assam two days a week in the morning assembly. 3 days a week a Karma Yog slokha is recited. Every year one new chapter of the Holy Gita is taught and competition held on Gita Jayanti.
4. Morning assembly. Well behaved children, follow assembly rules well. Everyday select students from various classes have to speak on a topic for a few minutes. Very good way to take away stage fright (did not have in my school). Heard a 10th standard student Sukanya – she spoke so well that thought she was a teacher.
5. Before the assembly started peeped into classrooms to see what is happening. Loved these smiles. Visited this school and many in Arunachal – kids so sweet. School has 22 teachers as on date of visit ie November 2018.
6. The school was nice enough to organise a dance program on that morning. The Chief Guest Shri Jayanta Bhagawati, an internationally acclaimed Kathak dancer, choreographer and music composer. Majuli is his home town. Students performing SATRIYA dance, more about this Assamese dance later.
7. The school was nice enough to organise a dance program on that morning. The Chief Guest Shri Jayanta Bhagawati, an internationally acclaimed Kathak dancer, choreographer and music composer. Majuli is his home town. Students performing SATRIYA dance, more about this Assamese dance later.
8. End of program dance group. Dress worn by girls is called AHARJYA. Necklace on head is called SITIPOTA. Name of chokker around neck is GALPOTA. Name of necklace around is DHOLBIRI, Junbiri. Silver bracelet on their hands is called MUTHIGARU.
9. Boys in the classroom. School lays emphasis on learning Indian Culture as I saw later. Dance, music is intrinsically woven with the people of Majuli. I was in Majuli to see the world famous Ras Mahotsav ie held on the 22-24th November every year – awesome.
10. These three esp the one in the centre were amongst the most active performers. Dress worn by girls is called AHARJYA. Necklace on head is called SITIPOTA. Name of chokker around neck is GALPOTA. Name of necklace around is DHOLBIRI, Junbiri. Silver bracelet on their hands is called MUTHIGARU.
11. In classroom. Tall boy in the centre took part in the musical program. Students brought clothes from home and changed in school.
12. Assembly hall mein anthem. One man, Swami Vivekananda, inspired millions worldwide. There are so many Ramakrishna Mission & Vivekananda Schools across the country.
13. Some shoes are nicely polished, remember my school days when I polished shoes every day, mine and Dad’s.
14. The Vrindavani Bastra Picture, created by Mahapurusha Srimanata Sankaradeva, depicts various episodes from Sri Krishna’s childhood for eg breaking of milk pot, killing Putona and Bakasur. It is these stories that are depicted in the Ras Mahotsav i.e. held from 22-24th November every year.
15.Performance started with MANGALACHARAN that Vivekananda Kendra follows.
16. SATRIYA Nritya (dance). Dance was introduced in the 15th century by Assamese Rishi Sankaradeva. Satras or monasteries are the birth place of this dance form. He incorporated various folk dances, local dance treatise and combined it with his unique outlook. “The plays are usually performed in the dance community halls of monastery temples (sattras). The themes played relate to Krishna and Radha.”
17. “Classical ragas form the base of the borgeet (the music which accompanies this classical dance). Khols (drums) are the accompanying musical instruments which complete the performance of sattriya. Taals (cymbals), violin, flute and harmonium are also used to enrich music of this classical dance form.” Dress is AHARJYA. Necklace on head is SITIPOTA. Chokker around neck is GALPOTA & necklace is DHOLBIRI, Junbiri. Silver bracelet is MUTHIGARU.
18. Performance graceful. “There are several sub-sections of this dance form such as Behar Nritya, Chali Nritya, Manchok Nritya etc. Dasavatara Nritya are the stories of Lord Vishnnu’s ten incarnations. In Rasa Nritya, the raas leela of Krishna and Radha is depicted which is the epitome of bhakti rasa–(devotional feeling).”
19. So artistic. “One-act plays of Sattriya are called Ankiya Nat, which combine the aesthetic and the religious through a ballad, dance and drama.”
20. This is DIHANAAM-devotional songs of Assam that is performed by men & women in a traditional dress. It is sung in praise of Sri Krishna through Nam (songs). Currently app 34% students are girls. Due to limited resources parents unwilling to spend more on child education. To increase number of girls, you can sponsor education of girl child. Costs Rs 18,000/ p.a. Mail me at esamskriti108@gmail.com for details.
21. Dress worn by girls is called AHARJYA. Necklace on head is called SITIPOTA. Name of chokker around neck is GALPOTA. Name of necklace around is DHOLBIRI, Junbiri. Silver bracelet on their hands is called MUTHIGARU. To visit school website http://majuli.vkv.in/
22. Girls who sang Dihanaam. Girls wearing MEKHELA made of muga silk, the green dress is called PARI SADAR.
23. Group photo of students who performed. Boys wearing Suriya, Kurta and Gamusa (white & red cloth round the neck). Girls wearing MEKHELA made of Muga, the green dress is called PARI SADAR.
24. Boy who you saw in pic 10. This is KHOL BADAN.
25. Another group photo – carried themselves so well. Am lucky to be seen them perform. Dress worn by girls is called AHARJYA. Necklace on head is called SITIPOTA. Name of chokker around neck is GALPOTA. Name of necklace around is DHOLBIRI, Junbiri. Silver bracelet on their hands is called MUTHIGARU.
26. Necklace on head is called SITIPOTA. Name of chokker around neck is GALPOTA. Name of necklace around is DHOLBIRI, Junbiri. Worn in hair, like a chokker, necklace and ear rings.
27. Pic of one child is blurred but just loved the kids and the message ‘Do Good Be Good’ so showing.
28. When the child in the centre got to know about the program he rushed home and returned all dressed up. For some reason my camera or I as a photographer underperformed that day. Apologies.