A Festive Year at Paripally

- A Report from Amma's Orphanage

Amrita Niketan (Amma's Orphange) and the adjacent Amrita Sanskrit Higher Secondary School (ASHSS) have celebrated many festivals this year, using the time not only as an enjoyable break from the routine, but as a way to celebrate, appreciate and understand their heritage. Festivals have traditionally played a unique role in the socio-spiritual cultural fabric of India. At the orphanage, the family for these occasions consists of the other children and staff members, and the neighborhood is their school, which is, located right next door.

The main events the Niketan children celebrate are: Amma's birthday, Christmas and often Krishna Jayanthi and the Western and Kerala New Years in the Amritapuri ashram with Amma. During these celebrations, they decorate the prayer hall and surroundings according to the tradition of the festival and receive special food. They keenly enjoy these activities and all the children participate in one way or another.

The arrival of the annual all school Youth Festival is always a major event for all the children. Children compete in recitation, Sanskrit, writing, painting, drama, music, costuming and much more. Amma supplies all the needs of the children from food, clothes, books, and medicine to special tuition in the arts and the instruments and costumes necessary to perform.

Last year ASHSS won the State Championship in Sanskrit. ASHSS is unique among Amma’s schools as it offers Sanskrit studies in its curriculum and is the largest school of its type in Kerala with an enrollment of 2500 students.

At the Youth Festival, I was particularly moved by a melodic song which I later discovered was called Ashtapadi, an eight stanza song in praise of Krishna , usually using stories from the life of Krishna and the gopis. This is an Eighth or Ninth Century art form unique to Kerala. This item was followed by Pathekom, one of the traditional temple arts of Kerala. It was practiced in the royal courts of Kerala as a political tool to communicate any dissatisfaction the subjects might feel toward the king. Using Puranic stories and a running comic commentary on current events the king could be communicated with indirectly without overtly questioning or criticizing him.

As the event progressed, I could hear the strains of music coming from a second stage nearby where a musical competition was going on including Sanskrit song. In a third venue a competition in drawing, painting and recitation in English and Malayalam was underway. I was impressed by the amount of organization and planning that went into this festival. Young students with badges served as hosts and hostesses distributing water to the students and visitors and tea and drinking coconuts to the judges and guests. One shy smiling boy had a large badge with a picture of Amma and on it was written, “Always at your Service.”

Groups of students moved from stage to stage watching the different competitions and cheering on their friends. The students always moved in small groups, often holding hands or leaning on each other. I watched the Muslim girls identifiable by their headscarves, and the Hindu and Christian girls moving together like a flock of birds, their long scarves drifting behind them. It was beautiful to see the spirit of unity and cooperation in this divided and sectarian world.

Later I talked to Ashwathy, the 10^th grade school leader, who gave the welcome speech in Sanskrit Ashwathy naturally liked Sanskrit and encouraged by her parents she joined ASHSS. I asked her how she experienced the school. She said that she finds it unique due to the encouraging and loving nature of her teachers. She also appreciates the close friends she has made at the school. She likes specializing in Sanskrit as she feels that the people interested in the language usually are high minded and intellectually oriented. She met Amma for the first time at the Trivandrum Brahmasthanam last year where she performed in Sanskrit. She said that after her darshan she felt an intense and indescribable happiness and she counts it as a great experience in her life.

We also spotted 12^th grade student Krishnapriya at the festival. We recognized her as the young woman who had performed at Amma’s fifty-first birthday celebrations. Everyone seemed impressed by this young
girl performing with complete assurance and supreme self-confidence the traditional Kerala art of Chakyarkuttu and the stage was packed during her performance.

I asked Krishnapriya how she felt when she was performing. She said that in the beginning she was nervous, but now, when immersed in the art, she forgets herself and particularly performing in front
of Amma, she feels very happy and confident. Both Krishnapriya and her
Eighth Standard brother attend ASHSS. We asked why her family had sent them there. She said that the family had liked the curriculum and reputation of the school and found it to be “absolutely different from other schools.” She said that it is never rowdy as some other schools can be, but has a quiet, serene, temple like atmosphere where she feels the presence of Amma strongly. She hopes to attend AIMS Medical College soon.

While all this excitement is going on the Niketan staff have to continue the hard work of cooking for the 500 children, keeping the premises clean, overseeing the children and nursing the sick children. In the midst of all this activity they still find time to meditate and do their spiritual practices. The dedication of the staff in Paripally towards caring for the children and giving them a good life while continuing their spiritual practice is very inspiring.

The festival ended with some closing remarks by the school officials and the awarding of the trophies and certificates. This year the Niketan children won first prizes in group dance, group song, Panchavatyam and English composition. A group of students closed the function with a lovely rendering of the song “Lokaha Samastha” which had been composed for Amma's fiftieth birthday celebration.

This cultural competition clearly served an important function in reinforcing the importance of traditional culture for all the students. These children from the most disadvantaged of backgrounds contributed and competed on an equal basis with the children from privileged backgrounds. Despite many obstacles and disadvantages, they have managed to express their talent and potential and find a place in the world.

R. S.

Video on Amma

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