Special Days
Remember when we've wished every day was a special day? Well, if my first three weeks in India are the norm, my wish has come true. Viji's husband, who works at a printing establishment, gave me a diary/daily planner. It contains a "Page of International Notable Days." In January the U.S. had 2 notable days while India had 5. For the year the U.S. has 11, India 31. Some say this is because of the diverse religious groups in India. They honor days for each of the religions. What this has meant for me is only 7 normal days out of the past 24. This is due to the notable days listed on the "Page" and also to my being placed in a school. We all know how many special days a school can create.

My first official special day was Pongal on January 14 and 15, but we at YRTV, my school, took the next 3 days too. Viji very graciously invited me to her home on Wednesday for the feast day. Pongal, as I previously mentioned, is their harvest holiday. Viji prepared an amazing amount of food. The dish everyone talked about is called pongal and is made of rice, sugar, dhal/lentils, milk, raisins and cashews. It was wonderful! Unfortunately, pongal in its extreme Pongal form is only prepared for Pongal, of course. On Thursday pongal was fed to the cows in thanks to their contribution to our bounty. And sugar cane was in plentiful supply all weekend.

The next two weeks we were in class - but only marginally as the school was preparing for Sports Day. Our usual 45 minute periods were shortened to 30 minutes so that practices could be held before and after school. Several classes were cancelled completely as music, dance, marching, etc, needed more practice time. I don't count any of those days as normal...or do I?


Monday, January 26, was Republic Day. The school had special activities in the morning. We had a flag raising activity that included marching and presentation of the classes. This was my first experience in the ceremonial quality of such gatherings.


After the flag raising ceremony everyone gathered under the trees for an extensive presentation of awards for the school year. The school year ends in March and begins in June. There were awards for academic and athletic performances and for all grades PreK to 12. Here a student is showing the book she received for outstanding performance in English. When all the prizes were given, candy was handed out and then we all went home for the afternoon.

Friday, January 30, was the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in1948. At 11 a.m. we observed two minutes of silence at which time we were to remember how he and others have worked to give us the life we enjoy.

Yesterday, February 1, a Sunday, was Sports Day. Sports Day is held on Sunday so parents are able to attend. The festivities began at 2 and ended at 8:30. I haven't had time to sift through all that happened, but here are some photos.... Imagine ceremony and then more ceremony.

As on Republic Day the band led the upper class students onto the field. They were presented to the guests on the dais. There were flag raising, torch lighting, and singing of a prayer activities, to name a few. This part always has the feel of a military school. And we are not a military school.

The lower grade students (PreK to 5th) were led onto the field by two elephants.

Many students performed and competed. Here 12th grade boys build pyramids. But there were relay races, dance routines, and demonstrations

Parents of the primary students got up closer when their children performed. Isn't that the norm?



Medals were awarded for each competition. The Olympic form was a theme for the day.

I was asked to sit on the dais with the principal, whose seat is empty as he was off seeing to things, the patron (N.R.K. Ravindran), the special guest and his wife, and other members of the patron's family. What you can't see in this picture are the two ACs, one on each end of the dais! Yes, we are sitting outside.

Sports Day ended with fireworks and a computerized show of the National Anthem. The staff retired to the treed area which had been turned into a restaurant. We were served a huge buffet dinner just after having had a substantial tea a few hours earlier. Most people were on their way home by 8:30. And today there was no school.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, marks the beginning of a string of normal days. That means full days of 45 minute class periods and Saturday morning classes for all but me. According to the "Page" in my diary, we will be normal until the 23rd. We shall see.

An aside.....

The doorway of a Hindu home is filled with a welcoming rangoli. It is a rice powder drawing. On normal days it is white only. On special days, colors are used. Here is the neighbor's rangoli for Republic Day. Viji said the rangoli fills the entrance so that evil may not enter.