PRAGATI- THROUGH MY EYES AND EFFORTS-3 (The Culturals)

If Pragati 2011 was a big hit, its culturals were even bigger. The three areas the shed area, the stage and open ground all of them were heavily jammed and one could hardly find space to keep one foot forget two. The excitement and the flurry in the eyes of the little children who had come from Harihar, Rannibennur, Davangare and nearby villages could be very well seen through their little heads popping with excitement here and there jumping around and playing. The reason being obvious, Pragati. It is one of those rare events of the area that gives a chance to all little children to participate in various events constituting arts and sports and above everything, I truly believe the thing which would excite them the most is a three day BONA FIDE bunk from their schools. Moreover, big proof of Pargati being a main event is the participation of around 600 to 700 students each day.

The first day, 19 January began with three events simultaneously in the three regions, the drawing contest in the shed region, slow cycling in the open ground, the crowd, and my personal favourite Fancy dress competition, where even the kids look no less than professional ramp models. I can still very well commemorate the innocence and charm on each one of their faces, the way they were carrying off their hot attitude and designer wear they sure looked like future Johns and Bipashas. Fancy dress was followed by the group dance competition for age groups 9 to 14 years followed by solo singing for the children of 5 to 8 years of age. Simultaneously around 50 students participated in drawing competition in which they were told to draw on whatever topic they felt like and they did not disappoint the judges. 

Now I need to take a deep breath because the condition of Ankur and Saurav was pitiful, gosh! Enduring lines of children for slow cycling, Hats off to both of them for handling such a magnanimous crowd. Some children so canny that they actually changed their names and stood up like first timers for re enrollment. 

Putting everything together I believe it was a great learning experience for them and also for us, after all in case we have some naughty and cunning kids in future it would be helpful to us as in how to handle them (giggle*).

And finally the slow cycle race came to a halt and was followed by solo singing and dance competition which ran till 6 pm in the evening. After that at 7.30 pm a rocking band performance was given by a local band which gave full throttle head banging and some sprained necks for the next morning. And yes please don’t go by the word local, there were enough of sheela and munni type numbers sung by them and trust me the quality of performance they gave was unmatchable, the craziness of crowd very well elucidated it.

The second day begun with henna (MEHANDI) competition under the shed area, the beautiful henna designs they made were worth appreciating. The girls of KIAMS took a leverage of the contest by giving a helping hand (by helping hand I mean the selfish girls wanted to get their hands full too). Followed by solo and group dance contest for age group 5 to 8 years of age and 9 to 14 years of age for which we had enormous number of sign ups, the response was so humongous that we had to close the registrations beyond 60 entries for each age group. Two local western dance groups gave a heart throbbing performance setting up the evening at great heights. The evening show was marvelous; the most popular band of Harihar “BONGOLE’’ gave a rocking performance during the same evening.

The last day was thought to be light as far as competitions were concerned because it was the prize distribution day. The chief guest for the day was the IG of Davengare. 

The organization of a Rangoli competition for girls and women of the surrounding areas colors marked the last day and flowers lit up the whole atmosphere and made the whole festival brighter. Just when we thought, it was over another round of solo singing for age groups of 5 to 8 and 9 to 15 years was organized followed by solo dance for age groups 9 to 14 years, just to make sure that no one was left out and everybody got an equal chance of participation.

The late evening began with award and certificates distribution ceremony from 6 pm onwards. The chief guest was felicitated with flowers. Anantram sir took over the stage and like always his words instilled a wave of excitement and motivation amongst students of KIAMS.

Altogether KIAMS cultural was a big hit and was a great experience of learning for each person who helped to organize it. May we encounter such auspicious moments as long as we are a part of the KIAMS FAMILY.

By:-

AANCHAL SETHI

Cultural Representative

B-13