Summer Course (3-5/6/2024)

Summer Course in Indian Culture & Spirituality – Day 1
Sairam. With the Divine Blessings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Educare, Chromepet organized a 3-day Summer Course in Indian Culture and Spirituality between 3rd and 5th June 2024. The theme for this year’s summer course was ‘Sadhana, Seva, Vidya as demonstrated by Bhagawan’. The 3 days of the course were allotted topics based on the theme.
First Day: 3rd June 2024
Theme : Sadhana (Spirituality)
The compering students enacted as Vishwamithra, Rama and Lakshmana and introduced each event during the day. As the first event, the Prasanthi Flag was hoisted by the chief guest Sri Kandaswamy Bharathan, Joint Managing Director, Kavithalayaa Productions Pvt Ltd, Chennai. After lighting the lamp of love, veda parayanam was performed by the students. During the inaugural session, Director Sri P.Kumarasamy delivered the welcome address and explained about the significance of organizing the summer course. The chief guest Sri Kandaswamy Bharathan addressed the students narrating how Spiritual Sadhanas can turn a spark into a flame. He advised the students to consider everything as Swami’s Divine Sankalpa. He spoke in detail on following a daily prayer to Swami:
Swami, Please think through me
Swami, Please feel through me
Swami, Please speak through me
Swami, Please act through me
Swami, Please love through me
The session left a deep impression in the tender hearts of the children on developing a daily connection with Swami through prayer.
After the inaugural session, Mrs. Radha Sai Sredhar, Balvikas Guru, Kanchi North, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization addressed the students on what is spirituality and the importance of daily spiritual Sadhans. He explained to the students about the 3 types of Gunas such as Sathva, Rajas, and Tamo, and the 3 different types of Marks to please Swami: Bhakthi Marga, Karma Marga, and Gnana Marga. She differentiated between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ and detailed the students that sacrifice as the supreme value one should follow. It was followed by the investiture ceremony for the academic year 2024-25. Correspondent Sri S.Loganathan introduced the captain and vice-captain and the teachers in- charge of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, and Prema houses. The rules and responsibilities of the house in-charge were also discussed.
In the afternoon, students interacted with their new class Gurus and got acquainted with them. It was followed by a mesmerizing ‘Kavi Sammelanam’ event exhibiting the poetic skills of the students belonging to different Indian languages such as Tamil, Hindi, Marati, Rajasthani, Telugu, Kannada, Odiya etc. The values exhibited on the land of each language were highlighted during the event. Then, the fun-filled value games occupied the front stage. Students played various creative and value-based games such as ‘Gignasu’, ‘Nama Shravan’, ‘Nama Chintana’, ‘United we stand’ etc. After this, the random characters for the drama to be presented on the third day of the summer course were picked up by the captains. The session came to an end with chanting ‘Shanti Mantra’
In the evening, a scintillating Bharathanatyam solo performance was rendered by Kumari. Meenakshi, disciple of Shrimati. Yamuna Janarthanan, Sri Sarasavani Natyakalamandhir, Chennai. Correspondent Sri S.Loganathan felicitated the artist and the SSSIE dance teacher Ms. Anusha for arranging such a fabulous program during the summer course. The event concluded with Mangala Arathi to Bhagawan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second Day of the course commenced with Vedam Chanting and prayers. The entire day’s session was compered by 2 senior students as ideal Sai students. The Chief Guest, Dr. Prasanna Venkatesh, State Youth Coordinator, TN, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization was warmly welcomed. He gave a valuable speech on the various seva activities undertaken by the Sai Organization. He talked about the miraculous events that happened at the organization and also inspired the students to render selfless service. He shared with the students interesting videos on the different Seva programs that the Organization has undertaken. He talked about the Sri Sathya Sai Disaster Management Program, Narayana Seva, Grama Seva, Village development programs, Tribal empowerment programs, Medical Camps, Eco-friendly programs, and multiple other service programs under the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization. He inspired the students to serve humanity in any way possible. A token of love was presented to the speaker along with a note of thanks by Smt. N. Keerthana, TGT.
After a short break, Sri P.Kumaraswamy , Director, SSSIE talked about the inner significance of Seva and the numerous benefits gained form performing selfless seva. He told the students about a few more magical moments spent with Bhagawan and also moved the audience with another set of heart-touching stories. He also shared with the students, through his speech, multiple instances that involved volunteers getting instant benefits from a single act of Selfless service. He said, “Seva doesn’t have a specific time or place, it can be performed everywhere’. He was thanked after the session.
Following the Lunch break, we had an interesting round of house-wise Value Games. About 8 value games were played by the students of all the houses – Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi, and Prema. The competition changed the atmosphere with a sense of happiness and enjoyment. They were accompanied by the cheers from all the students.
The evening session was a Carnatic vocal program by Sri Kannabiran, SSSIE Vocal Master. He was accompanied on Mridangam by Sri Srivatsan, SSSIE Mirdangam Master, and Sri Sarankumar on the violin. The group rendered a mellifluous vocal concert. After 2-3 songs, the vocal artist sang the songs of the student’s choice such as “Amma endrazhaikaadha uyirillaiye..” etc. The songs moved the audience and the professionals earned a huge round of applause and cheers from the students. The artists received a token of love from the hands of the Correspondent, Sri Loganathan, and a lot of appreciation and gratitude from the school authorities. The event concluded with Mangala Arathi to Bhagawan.

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Course in Indian Culture & Spirituality – Day 3
The 3rd and final day of the summer course began with a compering by senior students acting as a doctor and Emadharma Raja. The scenic creation of the situation depicted by the students captured the attention of all. The theme for the day was ‘Vidya’. Smt. R.Vimala, Balvikas Guru, Chennai Metro, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, TN presented a thought-provoking speech on the topic of Education and Educare. She began her session by explaining about the Maha Veda Vekhyas such as ‘Aham Brahmasmi’, ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ etc. and stated ‘Eswarah Sarva Bhuatanam’: It is God who is omnipresent and the Shakthi that makes all the beings and the objects operate. She described about the functions of the conscious mind, sub-conscious mind, and superconscious mind advised everyone to follow 3 HV in life(Head to heart to hands): By-pass all the thoughts arising in the Head through the heart and then execute them. She highlighted that Educare is understanding that we are made up of values and we should practise them in daily life. Smt. Poongothai, Primary Headmistress proposed the vote of thanks.
After the speech, an inspiring panel discussion participated by senior students about the difference between education and educare was conducted by Smt. Maheswari.M, Senior Teacher. Students brought out the uniqueness of the Sai system followed at SSSIE through the discussion. Then, a fun-filled and mind-boggling debate on the topic ‘Which is the best culture? western or Indian?’ was presented with a jovial mediation by Smt. Kuppulakshmi, Primary Tamil Teacher, participated with students as well as the staff. In the afternoon, an informative and insightful exhibition under the topics Sadhana, Seva and Vidya was presented by the students. The depiction of various concepts related to the topics in chart form and using human models as a sage and Goddess Saraswathi attracted the audience.
It was followed by the valedictory session of the Summer course. Smt. Malini Chandrasekharan, Medical Director – South at Karkinos Healthcare, an ardent devotee of Bhagawan was the chief guest. She was accompanied by Sri Pranasakha Easwar, SSSIE well-wisher. She narrated the miraculous incidents of Bhagawan she came across in Qatar and Prasanthi Nilayam and advised the students to follow important values in life such as always seeing the good in others, E-go: Edging out Ego to please Bhagawan etc.
After the proposal of vote of thanks by the Principal-in-Charge Smt. Vedhanayagi, all the students took the summer course oath affirming Bhagawan on conducting themselves as ideal Sai students. Being ‘World Environment Day’, the captains of the houses gifted the school with plant saplings to be planted inside the campus. All rendered the school motto song holding a lit candle and offered Mangala Arathi to Bhagawan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAI SAIRAM