“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever” said Gandhiji.
Today 2nd October celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti in India & “International World Peace Day” across the world.
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated across India with various events like:
- Prayers, commemorative ceremonies and honors across India;
- Art exhibitions and essay competitions;
- The showing of films and book readings on Mahatma Gandhi’s life & achievements.
- People sing Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, Gandhiji’s favorite devotional song.
It’s heartening to see how smaller children are truly celebrating the freedom spirit of Gandhiji, we have mentioned below what some leading preschools did to explain to the kids about importance of Gandhi Jayanti.
Ipsaa had the most happening event of town – Toddler’s Day Out which included Gandhi Jayanti celebrations as a part of it. Kids were made to do an interesting activity on making charkha and Gandhiji cutouts with cardboard & dress it up with paper. Kids were explained on why Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated – how Gandhiji played an important role for independent India. For Ipsaa, it is very important for kids to be independent & they bring every child to a position through which the child can be independent and self-reliant.
At Mindseed, they followed Mahatma Gandhi’s quote, “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet”. They believe cleanliness is most important for physical well-being and a healthy environment. So, they ensure these habits learnt at a young age, get embedded into one’s personality. They took the kids for a small cleanliness drive at a nearby ground.
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Mahatma Gandhi. Maple Bear Canadian Schools across the country start their Gandhi Jayanti Celebration with this quote.
Along with the other teaching of Mahatma Gandhi, Maple Bear Schools try to teach their children humility, humanity & nonviolence. Maple Bear schools celebrated Bapu’s birthday with all of fun & fair. Some centres had craft & art activities where kids made charkha. Some centres also celebrated with quiz on freedom & general knowledge.
At The Circle, Gandhi Jayanti week shall be followed with exciting activities like story telling sessions about Gandhiji, small fancy dress competition themed “Bapu” where the little ones can dress up like Gandhiji, narrations on ‘Ahimsa’ and a short essay competition on the Father of the Nation for Daycare kids.
At Podar Jumbo Kids Plus, “Gandhi Jayanti” is celebrated in a big way. They try to inculcate Gandhijis ideas into children so that they are aware of the freedom struggle. Children can dress up as any National Leader and experience a few values/practices by them. The event is not only for the kids but for their parents & family at their centres where a wonderful display and activities created to bring an awareness about Gandhi and his values.