On Nov 17th, every one, including students, teachers, and volunteers, will be part of a special occasion where Shishu Bharati students from all 3 locations – Walpole, Nashua, and Lexington – come together for a “festival” that celebrates Indian Culture. This event is focused on students but all parents and siblings are also invited to attend and be part of the entire celebrations. There is no fee to attend the event except subsidized charge for a boxed lunch at the end of the event.
Location and Parking Details
The event will take place on November 17th in the LHS (Lexington High School) at 251 Waltham St, Lexington, MA 02421. It will be at the Field House, the circular building at the Worthen Road entrance of LHS, adjacent to the front parking lot where Shishu Bharati parents typically do not park. However, for November 17th, we have been granted permission to park there. Parents can choose to park either on the Waltham Street side or the Worthen Road side, with the latter being closer to the venue. The event will run from 10 AM to 1 PM. You are requested to arrive early to avoid last minute parking challenges.
Key Highlights
The event is being organized like a Indian Mela (fair) where visitors can have some fun, get entertained, and also get exposed to something new. We are referring to this Mela as the “Diwali Mela” as it is occurring close to the Diwali festival.
The Shishu Bharati Diwali Mela of 2024 will have 2 major aspects:
* Immersive booths where kids can go and do some hands-on activities and experience some interesting aspects of Indian Heritage
* Performances undertaken by our students that will showcase the talents across all our 3 locations will take the audience on a tour through different regions of India. The final performance will be a one of a kind “Unity Parade” where kids dressed in traditional clothes from various corners/states of India will celebrate the diversity of India and unite together as one grand nation.
Immersive Booths
We are planning to have a variety of activity booths to keep everyone engaged and excited. The booth activities will include coloring & painting for little Picassos, music & dance to fill the air with festive tunes and arts & crafts to express your creativity!
Dazzling Performances
Every location will have a couple of performances by students. These performances include dance oriented performances (e.g. Bhangra Dance by the Walpole team), musical (Lezim/Dhol performance by the Lexington team) and many others like “India through the Ages” performance by the Nashua team!
Prizes!
In keeping with the tradition of a true Mela, students will also get a chance to get cool prizes.
Every student visitor will get a “passport” showcasing all the exciting booths and activities. The student will earn a hole punch each time he/she visits a booth. The more punches the student collects, the bigger the prize will be! Please make sure that you show your passport at the prize booth to collect the prize!
Lunch Boxes (at a Subsidized Rate)
Shishu Bharati is planning a yummy lunch at the end of the event. This will be a boxed lunch with 2 curries, rice, naan, and a dessert for a subsidized price of $10/box including taxes. You will need to pay and reserve in advance for both parents and students ahead of time so that we can plan accordingly. The in-person rate will be higher and will be subject to availability.
Let’s make it fun & memorable!
The event will be a great time to take photos and make many memories. We will also have a booth where you can take some pictures which will make you appear that you were in India. And yes, you can wear any of your fancy Indian clothes and look awesome for the event. Make sure to smile and take some great pictures during the event.
There is a team of dedicated volunteers working hard to make the event successful. At each location, we have the Education Council working closely with the Special Programs Committee (Satyajit Adhyapak (Nashua), Sonal Bakre (Lexington), Sai Lakshmi (Walpole). You can learn more by reaching out to your local teams (Principal, Special Program Representative) or the Officers who work across all locations.
