Celebrating the South Indian Festival of Pongal at Andovar School!

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Dear Friends of Andovar School in Tamil Nadu, India

I am pleased to share with you photos of our school's celebration of the festival of Pongal. The harvest festival of Pongal is celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu from Jan.13-16. It is a festival that marks the Sun's shift to its 6 month journey northward. It is primarily a festival to thank the Sun and all the laws of Nature for a bountiful harvest-especially of rice.

Deity statues are beautifully dressed and decorated
 for the occasion of Pongal

The festival is celebrated by Tamil people throughout the world-and especially in the state of Tamil Nadu. Our school celebrated in the traditional way. The first rice of the season is boiled with milk in an open courtyard until it boils over.

Beautiful drawings of spiritual significance are made outside of homes, temples and other public places. Homes are decorated with mango and banana leaves. It is a time to celebrate abundance and all the blessings of Mother Nature.

Our school administrators preside over the festivities as the students look on. 

After the rice and milk have cooked and have been spiced to create the dish called "Pongal" everyone has a taste and enjoys other sweets and savories as part of the celebration. In the photo below, our students dressed in their best enjoy the feast.

The students at Andovar School celebrate all of the major holidays of each religion Hindu, Muslim and Christian so that the students gain and understanding of each other, each culture and its special place in Indian culture and the world.

First Science Fair at Andovar School!

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First Science Fair at Andovar School

Porayar, Tamil Nadu

January, 2016

Andovar school students assemble for the
first science fair on food, nutrition and health

Last week our Andovar school in Tamil Nadu enjoyed its first science fair. It was a simple beginning of what we hope will be a regular event as our school gathers resources. The theme of this fair was simple-the topic was health and how the best medicine comes from the kitchen!

Oral presentations were given by the 7th and 8th grade students. In South India, there is a famous proverb that says "Kitchen is the hospital with mother as doctor and food as best medicine".

Students brought fruits, native vegetables, herbs and greens, milk, milk products, and spices from their homes. They discussed the special properties of each food item in maintaining health. 

Students brought native foods to discuss
nutrition and health benefits

.

There were not too many scientific details discussed about the food items but practical information was given about important health issues. Students discussed how each respective food item was a remedy for common health problems.The students got good experience presenting before a group.

Students practiced speaking and presentation skills

A skit with Traditional VILLU PAATU (musical bow) accompaniment was also presented based on health and food. The skit was about modern hospitals and how common ailments were better treated by prevention.

Villu Paatu or musical bow used to accompany
dramatizations with song and verse


Of course there was room for creativity and artistic expression!

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Happy New Year From Porayar School

Thanks to your help the students at Andovar School in Porayar, Tamil Nadu India are back in classes! 

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Help Fulfill Our Student's Dream in 2016

The school was closed for about a month due to heavy rains and flooding. Thanks to your generous help we were able to send $3000 for roof repairs and to build a temporary building to replace badly damaged classrooms. 

Since the geographical area where the school is located is prone to flooding, our new school will be designed with proper drainage and as many precautionary measures as possible to minimize the risk of damages from future storms.

The children gathered together at the New Year to send their thanks and wishes for the coming year to all of you. The message reads, "May you be blessed with power to spread good cheer and smiles all around in this New Year 2016!"...signed Headmaster, Teachers and Students of Andovar School