A Magical Evening of Learning and Laughter:
The Parijñā Activity Workshop at Sāntācrūz, Sāraswat colony, on 5th July 2025
(Report by Kavitā Kārnāḍ, with inputs from Chetanā Kaḍle, Smitā Nāgarkaṭṭe and Padminī Balsekar)
It all began with a brainstorming session, followed by a flurry of meetings and a WhatsApp group. Prārthanā teachers (from Sāntācrūz and Vile Pārle), along with Chetanā Kaḍle pachi, meticulously crafted a Parijñā Activity workshop for all children between the ages of 5-12 years. The date was set for 5th July 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m., promising an evening of games and creative crafts.
Dhanashrī Ubhayakar pāchī designed a beautiful poster that perfectly captured the spirit of the upcoming event. The event was promoted word-of-mouth and by circulating the poster on WhatsApp groups, after which interested children from Sāntācrūz, Vile Pārle, Andherī & Dādar Sabhā-s were registered for the workshop.
designed by Dhanashrī Ubhayakar pāchī
On the day of the event, despite intermittent rains, the detailed two-hour schedule unfolded seamlessly. After the Sabhā Prārambha Prārthanā, Smitā Nāgarkaṭṭe pāchī, explained to the children the significance of Devī Saraswatī, the revered deity of knowledge. A beautiful image of Devī Saraswatī, holding a vīṇā and scriptures, was shown to the children symbolizing Her divine connection to wisdom and education. A Pañchopachāra Pūjā (a five-fold ritual offering) was performed for both Devī Saraswatī and the books. After they collectively chanted the "Saraswatī Namastubhyam" shloka, three books from the "Saṁvit Sudhā counter" (Utsava, Shiva Sāyujyam - 60 stories of Shiva and Utsava Activity book) were showcased. The children were given a glimpse of the contents and encouraged to explore their pages. This was followed by a round of self-introductions as an ice breaker.
to the children by Smitā Nāgarkaṭṭe pāchī
The learning continued with Padminī Balsekar pāchī discussing ‘Yugādi’ from the "Utsava Book", bringing cultural traditions to life. To get everyone energized, Aparṇā Beṭrabeṭ pāchī led a series of warm-up exercises and games, filling the room with cheerful movement. Continuing the storytelling segment, Kavitā Kārṇāḍ pāchī narrated to the young audience a tale from "Shiva Sāyujyam - 60 Stories of Shiva".
Warm-up exercises and Games by Aparṇā Beṭrabeṭ pāchī
Next, the children were divided into smaller groups for a hands-on craft activity. This segment was made even more special by the participation of the senior batch of Sāntācrūz Prārthanā Varga children, who enthusiastically guided their younger peers. Tiny hands busily worked on creating vibrant toraṇa-s and beautiful peacock feather bookmarks. Aditi Muḍbidrī pāchī and Vrindā Yeḍerī pāchī also provided guidance and encouragement.
The air was filled with fun, laughter and the joyful sounds of games. All that excitement certainly worked up an appetite, and the children were later treated to a round of scrumptious snacks, bringing the wonderful day to a satisfying close. As a memorable takeaway, each child received a copy of the Utsava Activity book, ensuring that the magic of the evening would continue long after they leave. It was truly an evening where our rich culture and heritage met creativity, leaving lasting smiles and enriched minds.
Set up for the evening, the Saṁvit Sudhā stall (managed by Sujātā Mudūr pāchī and Saṅgeetā Māvinkurve pāchī) was a hit, featuring Parijñā books and a wonderful selection of children's bags and pouches. The overwhelming and humbling feedback from the parents of participating children spoke volumes. They were already eager to enroll their children for future workshops.
The first book in the Parijñā series was released on 1st March 2014, under the guidance of H.H. Shrīmat Sadyojāt Shaṅkarāshram Swāmījī. One of the objectives of this series is to bring parents and children closer by spending quality time together and to impart values and other aspects of our culture to impressionable young minds.
Jai Shankar!
Watch this space for reports on more upcoming workshops!