Magazine of March - 2010 - Rups.net

Suma Kaushik, its Manager, thanked all those whohad helped fulfill PP Parijnanashram Swamiji’sdream. Poojya Sadyojat Shankashram Swamiji alsoaddressed the gathering.Konkani Culture: On the same day (24 th ), anenjoyable session took the shibirarthis on a journey,revisiting some of the intricacies of our mothertongue, which many of us were not very fluent in.We were first introduced to the “Amchi SurnamePictionary Game” in which volunteers from amongthe shibirarthis were given a Konkani surname andhad to draw a picture which would represent it as aKonkani or English word. This game was thoroughlyenjoyed by all. They then regaled the audience withsome traditional Amchi phrases or “mhanyo”.Games: Much-needed rest to our over-workedbrain cells, was provided by way of two extremelyinsightful games (24 th and 26 th December) which hadboth the young and the old participating actively.1. The Bedsheet Game – The shibirarthis weresplit into four tolis or groups – Audumber, Kadamb,Palash and Bilwa. Each toli was given a ball and abedsheet with five holes alongside which was acoloured patch. The objective was to navigate theball and make contact with all the coloured patchesnext to the holes while only holding the edge of thebedsheet. To increase the difficulty level, the gamewas replayed with two balls.2. Teamwork Game – Each toli was responsible forone letter of the word “AMCHI” and the objectiveof was to draw this letter in each of the 5 papersheets (stuck to the ground), using a box holding asketch pen at the bottom attached to which were 6ribbons, but by holding only the edge of the ribbons.Processing sessions at the end of each game helpedus to understand how we could relate the game toour real life. Both young and old participated veryenthusiastically; the energy displayed by the elderswas a joy to behold! The level of competitivenessreached was extraordinary and, at times, theshibirarthis needed to be reminded that it was “onlya game”.Sanskrit Sessions: Sanskrit sessions (25 th and27 th December) were facilitated by using a mixtureof props and games. The sessions were conductedentirely in Sanskrit which, although challenged ourunderstanding at times, was well received and someshibirarthis showed an interest in learning Sanskritvia the notes on our Math website.Karaseva: For “Karaseva”, which literally means“service by hand”, the shibirarthis were taken toKembre farms where they had the opportunity toperform some unusual seva. They were split into twogroups - the first worked in an Acacia plantationwhere the shibirarthis had to rake in the fallendried leaves which prevent the rain water to seepthrough the ground to the roots. The second grouphad the task of smashing the rice shoots against thefarmer beds to separate the rice from the shoots (seephotograph above). Spread over the 25 th and 26 th ,the karaseva, although tiring, was quite a humblingexperience for many and made the shibirarthisappreciate some of the simple things of everyday life.Refreshed by an invigorating session of stretchingexercises, the shibirarthis performed their seva withabsolute sincerity and boundless enthusiam.Yuvadhara Presentations (25 th and 27 thDecember): Yuvadhara members made presentationson some of the Math’s activities. Madhura Haldipurspoke about the Srivali High School which catersto the students from the 8 th to 10 th standards.Kiran Gokarn then provided an insight into howSanskrit is slowly regaining its lost glory and howwe as Chitrapur Saraswats can avail of the teachingresources via Girvana Pratishtha, the Sanskritlearning arm of our Math. Esha Hoskote then spokeabout the praiseworthy work carried out by theSrivali Trust in helping the community in and aroundShirali. She also highlighted the importance of theSrivali Clinic and the exemplary work carried out bySamvit Sudha towards the upliftment and increasedindependence of the women around Shirali.Rahil Mundkur and Kartik Kadle gave a brieftalk on the concept of the Yuvadhara which hasbecome a huge success story in India, with a currentmembership of over 600 members countrywide.68Vol. 91, No.3, March 2010Kanara Saraswat