In the serene village of Salvador do Mundo, nestled among Goaโs greenery, Smt. Sunandabai Bandodkar High School recently transformed into a vibrant hub of tradition and eco-learning as it celebrated the auspicious Shravan month.
The school’s educators curated a unique blend of activities that helped students experience the rich cultural tapestry and seasonal beauty of this sacred monsoon period.
Muddy Hands & Green Lessons:
The festivities kicked off with paddy transplantation, giving students a hands-on experience of farming โ a ritual deeply tied to Indiaโs monsoon rhythm. Laughter echoed across the fields as students joyfully immersed themselves in muddy soil, understanding the hard work behind every grain of rice.
Clay, Chants & Culture:
On Nag Panchami, the school turned into a cultural classroom. Students molded clay idols of the Naag deity, chanted verses in the Navnaag Stotra recitation competition, and learned the ecological importance of anthill puja and collecting patri โ sacred monsoon leaves. A knowledge session on snakes helped students separate myth from reality, followed by a fun, fact-filled quiz.
Dance, Food, and Festive Joy:
Folk traditions came alive through fugadi, a rhythmic group dance that celebrates togetherness and joy. This was followed by the เคชเคพเคตเคธเคพเคณเฅ เคญเคพเคเฅเคฏเคพเคเคเคพ เคฎเคนเฅเคคเฅเคธเคต (Monsoon Wild Vegetable Festival), where students explored local, seasonal veggies like shevla, taikulo, and kuleeth, gaining insights into sustainable, traditional food practices.
A swing hung from a mango tree โ decorated with flowers โ became the centerpiece of fun, as students queued up for their turn, while others adorned their hands with mehendi, blending festivity with tradition.
A Sweet Ending:
To conclude the celebrations, students prepared and shared เคชเคพเคคเฅเคณเฅเคฏเคพ โ steamed rice dumplings filled with coconut and jaggery, symbolizing the warmth and sweetness of community living.
More Than a Celebration
The Shravan celebration was more than just a festive week โ it was an educational journey. Students absorbed values of sustainability, cultural awareness, community bonding, and respect for nature. The initiative stood out for its integration of learning with lived experiences โ a perfect example of holistic education rooted in heritage.
As monsoon winds rustled through the trees and laughter filled the air, the students of Smt. Sunandabai Bandodkar High School walked away with memories, skills, and a renewed sense of belonging โ to the earth and to their culture.
