Independence Day & Sri Aurobindo’s Birth Anniversary – 15th August 2025

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Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre, along with its units — Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir School, the Art and Music Section, and the Sri Ma Library observed the 79th Independence Day of India and the 153rd birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo on 15th August 2025. The celebrations began at 8:00 a.m. with the hoisting of the National Flag by the Managing Trustee of the institution, who also serves as the Principal of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir. This was followed by a vibrant cultural presentation. Students of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir performed a choreographed dance recital, followed by a group dance by the senior students from the Art Section Dance class. Children also presented a chorus songs. All students present, including those from the Art and Music Section, were offered cakes and chocolates as part of the celebration.

A meditation session was held at the Shrine from 10:30 a.m. providing a moment of quiet reflection. Later, a cultural programme was held in tribute to Sri Aurobindo. The performance included a rendition of Raag Desh on the sitar, followed by a dhun played by Shri Souravbrata Chakraborty, accompanied on the tabla by Shri Sudip Chattopadhyay, an eminent tabla player of West Bengal. Miss Meghna Ganguly, a B-High graded vocalist of All India Radio from Siliguri, presented a selection of devotional and patriotic songs on the occasion. The programme concluded with the distribution of prasad to all devotees, guests, and staff members of the Institution.

Workshop conducted at Seacom Skills University, Santiniketan

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On 16th May 2025, Seacom Skills University in Bolpur Santiniketan organized a workshop on “Artisanship: Encourage Dynamism of Entrepreneurship”. In response to an invitation from Dr. Suparna Sanyal Mukherjee, Associate Professor and HoD of Education DIC of Sociology and Anthropology, Seacom Skills University, two instructors from Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre Trust Art Section visited the campus at Bolpur to conduct the Workshop. There are very few instances in the past where such collaborative initiatives were taken. Mr. Abhijit Nath and Ms. Sayany Banerjee, two of our very efficient art instructors conducted the workshop by sharing their expertise in acrylic painting on garments. It was an enriching experience for the participants as well as for the resource persons. Dr. Sanyal Mukherjee conveyed her satisfaction to the Managing Trustee of Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre on the session conducted and mentioned that it was thoroughly and eagerly enjoyed by the participants from the University. In the future, the art section hopes to engage in such initiatives and outreach programs to facilitate the exchange of insights and perspectives on Art.

The Mother’s 147th Birth anniversary observed – 21st February 2025

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The 147th Birth Anniversary of The Mother was observed with reverence and enthusiasm at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre, New Alipore with its units viz. Sri Aurobundo Bal Mandir School and Art-Music-Dance Section, on 21st February 2025. The day commenced with the arrival of students at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir School offering their respects at the Shrine and received gifts and chocolates. A meditation session was held at the Shrine from 4:00 to 4:15 pm, fostering a serene and atmosphere. This was followed by the inauguration of an art and craft exhibition featuring works of students from the Art Section of the institution. The exhibition was formally opened by Shri Biswajit Ganguly, Managing Member of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Kolkata.

The evening programme began with an address by the Managing Trustee of the Centre cum Principal of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir School. In his speech, he highlighted the institution’s achievements, which have been guided by the ideas and ideals of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. This was followed by the distribution of prizes to meritorious students of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir, recognizing their accomplishments. A cultural programme was then presented by the present and former students, along with teachers of the institution. The performances revolved around the theme of student preparation and the deep bond between students and teachers at the school. The event was graced by the presence of parents, guardians, and distinguished guests, including school principals and visitors from Tamluk, Siliguri and Shillong.

The celebrations continued on 22nd February with the prize distribution ceremony of the Art Section. This was followed by a cultural programme ending with a drama featuring performances by students and instructors from the Art, Music, and Dance Sections of the institution. Parents and guardians of students attended the programme, appreciating the efforts and talents displayed. The art and craft exhibition was also visited by parents, guardians, and guests, who admired the creativity and hard work of the students.

On both days, Prasad was distributed, adding to the spiritual and festive atmosphere of the occasion. The two-day celebration was a fitting tribute to The Mother, reinforcing the values and teachings that the institution upholds.

Art Workshop – 8th December 2024

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The Art Section of Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre Trust arranged a workshop on Sunday, 8th December (2024) on various art forms like Lippan art, Glass painting, Rock painting, Umbrella painting, Textured acrylic colour on canvas, Pencil shading with charcoal powder, Tie and dye, Thumb and leaf painting, Painting without colours etc. Students from the institution as well as external participants tried their hands on different forms of art and crafts under the supervision of the art instructors. Chhandok Majumder, an ex-student of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir and currently a graphic designer at Udbodhan (Bagbazar), also joined the workshop as an instructor. The programme was inaugurated by singing Tagore’s verses ‘Aloker ei jharna dharay’ and lighting the lamp. Mr. Biswajit Ganguli, a trustee at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre Trust and Managing Trustee of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Kolkata, lit the lamp and inaugurated the event. The enthusiastic participants of different age groups greatly enjoyed the hands-on experience. After the workshop, there was a presentation session on art. Mr. Prashun Kanti Pal, a devotee and painter, shared The Mother’s view on Art and how she inspired others to pursue art at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. In another segment, Ms. Pinky Banerjee, an eminent actress, presented an interesting episode on the interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. The day was well spent on practice and deliberations on the subject ART.

Independence Day & Sri Aurobindo Jayanti – 15th August 2024

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Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre with its units Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir, Art and Music Section and Sri Ma Library observed the country’s 78th Independence Day and the 152nd birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo on 15th August 2024. Hoisting of the National Tricolour took place at 8.00 a.m. by the Managing Trustee of the institution and Principal of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir. The students and teachers of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir performed a choreographed dance recital on patriotic songs with short portrayals on the lives of eminent revolutionaries. All students, including those of the Art and Music 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, paying tribute to Sri Aurobindo on the occasion – song offerings by Sri Riton Kumar Dhar and flute recital by Sri Ranadhir Das, guest performers from Chittagong, Bangladesh, both empaneled artists of Bangladesh Betaar and Bangladesh Television. Accompanying on the tabla was Sri Sudip Chattopadhyay, eminent tabla player of West Bengal. Prasad was distributed to devotees, guests and workers of the Institution in the end.

Outdoor art session – Art Section

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Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre Art Section held another outdoor session at the Parasnath temple on 12th March (2024). The temple exhibits marvellous artistic inclinations that are displayed in the overall decorative patterns of the interiors and the exteriors. Senior students enthusiastically participated in the session of drawing and painting under the guidance of Mr. Pradip Haldar, Instructor at the Art Section.

Sri Ma Jayanti observed on 21st February 2024

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Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre (New Alipore, Kolkata) and its wings viz. Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir School, Art Section and Sri Ma Library observed 146th birth anniversary of The Mother on 21st February 2024. In the morning, students of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir arrived to receive toys and chocolates on the auspicious occasion.

Jayanti meditation was at the Shrine in the afternoon. An art and craft exhibition organised for this occasion was inaugurated by Dr. Abhijit Ray, Professor and Head of the Department of Film Studies, Jadavpur University. Prizes were handed over to students and staff who performed well and were regular during the previous year. The students, ex-students and staff of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir presented a cultural programme as an offering to The Mother, a dance ensemble on the unity amidst diversity of India and a drama based on Rabindranath Tagore’s “Tota Kahini” portraying the fallacy of the conventional education system and the need to move to a free progress one. Prasad was distributed at the end of the programme.

The observation of the auspicious occasion moved into the following day, 22nd February, when the Art Section with its students and staff joined in to pay homage to The Mother with a cultural programme and a drama subsequent to distribution of prizes and certificates to candidates who had performed well in the previous year. Both evenings saw gathering of parents of students and guests who witnessed the performances.

Art Section workshop held on 10th December 2023

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The Art Section arranges annual workshops where the participants can try different forms of art and crafts hands-on. This is also the time when the Art section remains open to external non-student participants. On 10th December, in a workshop like this, the Art section offered “hands-on training” on Character designing, Quilling, Craft making using paper, jute and waste materials, Clay modelling, Acrylic painting on cotton surfaces, pot painting and traditional art on pottery under the careful supervision of the art instructors. The program was inaugurated by expressing gratitude to the Almighty with Rabindranath Tagore’s verses ‘Anandaloke, Mangalaloke’ and lighting the lamp. The enthusiastic participants of various age groups greatly enjoyed the hands-on experience.

Outdoor Art Session at our Art Section

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Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre Trust Art Section from time to time conducts outdoor sessions for the senior students where they learn to create artworks inspired by the surroundings in the open air. Here are some glimpses of an outdoor session at the park street Cemetery, led by our art instructor, Mr. Sushital Roy, with the senior students (4th to 7th year, session 2022-2023). The Outdoor study was followed by a short visit to the Indian Museum where the students were able to draw inspiration from the various historical and cultural artefacts and learnt about different forms of arts. The students enjoyed the session thoroughly and the Art section plans to hold such outdoor sessions more often.