Notice & Events

The Mother’s Birthday (Sri Ma Jayanti) – 21st February 2023

The Mother’s Birthday was observed with due solemnity on Tuesday 21st February (2023) at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre, New Alipore, Kolkata. Students of the School – Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir came with parents, paid their respects to The Mother and received gifts. The evening programme began with inauguration of an exhibition of works of art and craft by the Art Section, followed by a talk on integral education by Ms. Deepanwita Sarkar, teacher of biology at St. Joseph & Mary’s School. New Alipore and devotional songs by Sri Sreedeep Mondal accompanied by Sri Sudip Chatterjee on the tabla. Teachers, present as well as ex-students of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir presented a drama based on the theme of joyful learning and thereafter, a dance recital depicting four aspects of The Mother – Maheswari, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali.

The Art Section of the Centre presented a cultural programme by their students the next day (Wednesday 22nd February) and a drama by the instructors of the same. Parents and guests visited the exhibition which remained open and watched the performance of the students and instructors.

An exploration into the world of pollinators – by Dr. Saikat Kumar Basu

On Friday, 17th February 2023, Dr. Saikat Kumar Basu, Executive Research Director, PFS, based in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and a columnist, visited Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir and held a session with digital presentation for the children of KG-II, titled “an exploration into the world of pollinators (like bees) and why are they important for us” to establish the idea within them and make them aware to be sensitive towards the environment as responsible citizens of the future.

Interesting aspect of “The Moon” at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre

On Friday, 20th January 2023, Shri Partha Ghosh, ex-Professor of Kalna Polytechnic gave an interesting presentation on “The Moon” at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre. His presentation encompassed aspects related to the moon viz. its phases, the phenomena of eclipses, its influences on earth (like tides), itas movements and where it is headed to. Apart from regular visitors at the Centre, teachers from other schools in the vicinity and a few students attended the show.

Siddhi Day observed at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre on 24th November 2022

Siddhi Day was observed at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre on 24th November (2022). The day is one of the Darshan Days of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry.  After a short deliberation on the significance of Siddhi Day,  a slide show was held on the topic SRI AUROBONDO ASHRAMER ADIKATHA by Shri Anurag Banerjee, member of the board of trustees at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre and the founder of Overman Foundation. The audience assembled enjoyed the slide show.  Tea was served to all assembled at the end. On the occasion, the ground and building of the Centre were decorated with lamps.

Children’s Day (2022) observed at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir

On the occasion of Children’s Day (on 14th November 2022), the students of classes Nursery-A and Nursery-B went to the Kolkata Zoological Garden, Alipore, where they spent the morning watching animals with their teachers. Parents were also asked to accompany and a good outdoor session was held at the zoo. At the School, the students of KGI and KGII participated along with their teachers, in a set of activity competitions (moving a bit away from the usual sports competitions) which was a thoroughly enjoyable session for them.

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75th year of Independence and Sri Aurobindo’s 150th Birth Anniversary

Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre with its wings observed the 75th Independence Day and the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo on 15th August 2022. Hoisting of the National Tricolour took place at 8.00 a.m. by the Principal of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir. The students presented the prayer “make of us hero warriors” sung to a tune and a synchronized drill. All students, including those of the Art Section, who were present were given cakes and chocolates. Meditation was held at the Shrine from 10.30 to 10.45 a.m. There was a cultural programme on the occasion, paying tribute to Sri Aurobindo on the occasion with song offerings by Smt. Sucharita Das, empanelled vocal artist in the Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal and a flute recital by Shri Debkumar Dey, empanelled artist in All India Radio and Doordarshan. Accompanying them on the tabla was Shri Sudip Chatterjee, an eminent tabla player, recipient of gold medal from H.E. the Governor of West Bengal. Prasad was distributed to devotees, guests and workers of the Institution in the end.

Teachers’ orientation programme – July 2022

Two groups of teachers from a rural primary school Sri Sri Ramakrishna Sishutirtha Nursery Vidyamandir of Khejuri (in East Midnapore) and a new school to be established in Chandannagar (Hooghly) participated in a three-day orientation programme at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir. Conducted by the Principal and teachers of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir, the programme covered importance of integral education following the thoughts of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother and incorporation of such aspects in the school curriculum with demonstration of some activities for such practice amongst students, preparation of syllabus from pre-primary stages upto class four and lesson plans. The same was held at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir from 25th to 27th July (2022) with nine participants.

Teachers’ Orientation (rural)

A two-day orientation programme covering areas like making learning interesting, use of art, drama, in day to day learning, use of digital medium according to their place and situation, etc. was conducted for a small group of teachers from a primary school of Banamalipur village near Lakshmikantapur and a non-formal school in K-plot, an island between the rivers Matla and Thakuraan,approachable from Patharpratima.

The orientation was conducted by teachers of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir on 17th and 18th November 2021.