Summer Camp 2019 - Day 7 - Camp Report
The last day of the camp started with the regular chanting of 'Medha Sooktam'. Swamiji asked one child from each group to come forward to chant one line of the hymn and thereby check their mastery over it.
This was followed by the chanting of "Nama Ramayana" and "Sankatmochan Hanumanashtakam", led by Srijit bhaiya, Monisha Didi and Rajeev bhaiya.
The last breakfast of this camp followed the chanting, after which the children were asked to assemble in the temple. There was a group photograph of the children, with Swamiji, just outside the temple and then children assembled inside, for the valedictory function.
Along with our Camp Acharya, Pujya Swami Aparajitanandaji, the resident acharya of the Chinmaya Sandeepany Asharam – Br. Sanat graced the occasion. Sri. Guru Prasad, one of the senior mission members from Bangalore and Sri. Chandra Prakash, President of Chinmaya Mission, Kolar also took part in the event.
Shalini didi took us through the entire valedictory function. Session started with the melodious Dhimikita bhajan, led by Priya Didi. Rashmi didi welcomed the gathering after which the children performed their learnings from the camp, in various formats (talk show, puppet or shadow show, tableau, rap etc.)
It was a wonderful show, bringing out the creativity of the children and they have performed so well, considering that they were given just a couple of days to prepare their respective items. Each group had one child elaborate their experiences for the past week. It was truly heartening to hear the children be so verbose.
Sri. Guru Prasadji addressed the children and spoke about the importance of having a role model in their lives and obviously, Hanuman is the best role model for everyone. He got the children to recite a few chaupais of the Hanuman Chalisa and told everyone to ask Hanumanji for only the blessings of 'budhdi', 'balam' and 'vidya'. He told them that in the entire Ramayana, Hanuman is the only person who never lost his heart, no matter what the circumstances and that was only because of his complete surrender to the Lord.
By now the children were eagerly waiting for the prize distribution. Sri. Chandra Prakash gave away the prizes. Room 23 was adjudged the best room in the girls hostel and room 43 was adjudged the best room in the boys hostel. Among the workshops and activities, Group 8 (Arogata) was selected to the best group, and Group 2 (Dhairyam) came a close second.
Aishwarya didi gave the vote of thanks.
This was followed by Ashirvachana by Pujya Swamiji. Swamiji emphasised on the importance of discipline in life, which they learned during the camp and asked the children to follow that in their own lives. This would give a lot of time for focussing on important things in ones life. He ended his talk with a prayer to Gurudev to enable each and every one to imbibe the learnings from the camp completely.
As a token of our offering at the Lotus feet of Pujya Gurudev, we performed the Paduka Pooja. Children were then given a small Prasada Book.
The program was completed and the children were sent for their lunch, their final meal at the ashram for this camp. Lunch was followed by the children getting their bags and suitcases packed and loading them into the buses.
Though the children were a little sad and were seen exchanging their phone numbers, they have already started planning for their next camp. The busses reached Indiranagar by 4:30pm and the children were picked up by their parents.
It truly has been an amazing week and no doubt that these children are truly blessed that they have been lucky enough to be in touch with Gurudev, through Swamiji and all the volunteers. This camp and it's learnings will definitely stand the children in good stead while they are gearing up to face their life.
This was followed by the chanting of "Nama Ramayana" and "Sankatmochan Hanumanashtakam", led by Srijit bhaiya, Monisha Didi and Rajeev bhaiya.
The last breakfast of this camp followed the chanting, after which the children were asked to assemble in the temple. There was a group photograph of the children, with Swamiji, just outside the temple and then children assembled inside, for the valedictory function.
Along with our Camp Acharya, Pujya Swami Aparajitanandaji, the resident acharya of the Chinmaya Sandeepany Asharam – Br. Sanat graced the occasion. Sri. Guru Prasad, one of the senior mission members from Bangalore and Sri. Chandra Prakash, President of Chinmaya Mission, Kolar also took part in the event.
Shalini didi took us through the entire valedictory function. Session started with the melodious Dhimikita bhajan, led by Priya Didi. Rashmi didi welcomed the gathering after which the children performed their learnings from the camp, in various formats (talk show, puppet or shadow show, tableau, rap etc.)
It was a wonderful show, bringing out the creativity of the children and they have performed so well, considering that they were given just a couple of days to prepare their respective items. Each group had one child elaborate their experiences for the past week. It was truly heartening to hear the children be so verbose.
Sri. Guru Prasadji addressed the children and spoke about the importance of having a role model in their lives and obviously, Hanuman is the best role model for everyone. He got the children to recite a few chaupais of the Hanuman Chalisa and told everyone to ask Hanumanji for only the blessings of 'budhdi', 'balam' and 'vidya'. He told them that in the entire Ramayana, Hanuman is the only person who never lost his heart, no matter what the circumstances and that was only because of his complete surrender to the Lord.
By now the children were eagerly waiting for the prize distribution. Sri. Chandra Prakash gave away the prizes. Room 23 was adjudged the best room in the girls hostel and room 43 was adjudged the best room in the boys hostel. Among the workshops and activities, Group 8 (Arogata) was selected to the best group, and Group 2 (Dhairyam) came a close second.
Aishwarya didi gave the vote of thanks.
This was followed by Ashirvachana by Pujya Swamiji. Swamiji emphasised on the importance of discipline in life, which they learned during the camp and asked the children to follow that in their own lives. This would give a lot of time for focussing on important things in ones life. He ended his talk with a prayer to Gurudev to enable each and every one to imbibe the learnings from the camp completely.
As a token of our offering at the Lotus feet of Pujya Gurudev, we performed the Paduka Pooja. Children were then given a small Prasada Book.
The program was completed and the children were sent for their lunch, their final meal at the ashram for this camp. Lunch was followed by the children getting their bags and suitcases packed and loading them into the buses.
Though the children were a little sad and were seen exchanging their phone numbers, they have already started planning for their next camp. The busses reached Indiranagar by 4:30pm and the children were picked up by their parents.
It truly has been an amazing week and no doubt that these children are truly blessed that they have been lucky enough to be in touch with Gurudev, through Swamiji and all the volunteers. This camp and it's learnings will definitely stand the children in good stead while they are gearing up to face their life.
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