Children from the Resource Department were invited to take part in the Pongal Celebrations held in Chettinad Sath Sadhana, a school for special children, on 31 January, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.

Students were warmly welcomed and taken around the campus. The campus was decorated with thoranam and flowers and it wore a festive air.  Pongal was made in a wood-fired stove out in the open ground.  Students of Bala Vidya Mandir took part in the thoranam-making activity and learnt to draw ‘pulli kolam’.  Games such as Aiming the ball, Blowing the Ping Ping ball, Mini football and Stacking race were organised for the children. The visitors were shown an informational video on Special Education and Vocational training.  Handicrafts like Arecanut plates, bags, trays and coasters made by the students of Sath Sadhana were on display.

Students from Bala Vidya Mandir enjoyed interacting with children from various other schools. They performed a ‘gummi’ dance for the folk Tamil music that was played.  It was an enjoyable experience and the value of acceptance, tolerance and inclusion was a key take-away from this visit.