Grand Openings in India

Nick-H

A stage show by the kids!

Now that's a great idea

Possibly the most important symbolic bit at the opening of the program is the lighting of the lamp. You should buy or borrow a nice big brass one, make sure you have a litre of oil, some wicks, and don't forget the matches. You can set up a small shrine, with appropriate pictures/deities: a good combination would be Vinyaka, for auspicious beginning; Saraswathi for knowledge and learning; and Lakshmi who can ensure you don't run out of cash. Lots of flowers and garlands around them all.

I don't think there is any necessity to get a priest to do any formal prayer or ritual, but best discuss this with locals.

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Here, for your delight and delectation is another example from the Great Indian Speeches Experience...

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are already running very late, and I know you are impatient to get to the food/music/dance/whatever and that you really do not want to listen to me.

I remember well an occasion on which I was in the audience, and the great Mr ZYX came to the microphone. I think we should all remember what he told us that day about speeches blah blah blah ... ... ... ... blah blah blah blah blah

It is at this point that the guy produces his speech from his pocket and proceeds to read it, unabridged, having lengthened his performance by all the blah blah about being late .

Whilst on the subject, you might want to bear in mind the following guidelines:

Man approaches microphone with one sheet of paper: Good.

Man approaches microphone with ten sheets of paper: Worrying.

Man approaches microphone with no paper: Very, very scarey!

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

mira4bai4

Just near me a new part of a school was dedicated.

The children lined either side of the entrance and drive. The school band played and a few honoured guests entered with the school children (girls) marching in formation behind.

It struck me as much like a parade with tinsel and streamers, mini festival and the essential blessing at the gate by candles and flowers and ringing of bells.

Diana

Now we are talking! I have one of those "super expensive saris (a gift) and have not been able to wear it anywhere...which is one of the main reasons to have something like this isn't it?

We could easily do the dancers (local, one of my student teachers dances at events so would know) and
Prizes - not "luxury" ones though...maybe framed paintings by the kids?
Clay sculptures by the kids too (instead of ice)
Waiters with trays of food...hmm...maybe some volunteers? (What should we serve to eat?)
Rangoli ...Help, I don't even know what this is?
As for "stars" I do know one very good singer name Asha who is on cable TV in Trevandrum and whose sister's wedding I went to (long story, we met on a train) Maybe she would be willing for a reasonable fee...

Um, my kids are 2-6 years old and not terribly talented (most have severe disabilities) but some can maybe sing a song if the teachers help and the do make "art" collages, drawings, paintings, etc.

Yup! This we can do! Thanks for the suggestion. We could give out little packets or binders or such with a program, gift bindi card, and information about the school, ...donation form... or would that be crass? What else would be a good, inexpensive gift? We have a pretty digitized peacock logo we could use as needed.

Banners. Check.

Thanks for the reminder. We actually were on top of this one...and one of our kid's father has a tall lamp (around a meter at least) that we can borrow. [The Collector got called to the capital unexpectly so I was asked to light the lamp at the Autism Conference last year and it was a huge honor. Photo even made the paper! Lovely way to start an event.

Here's an activity (not really a show but something all the kids and "big folks" too could do that might be fun (and functional...hehehe,) we have the nice big white-washed rock wall all the way around the preschool property (it's big) and we've been talking about getting the kids lots of paint and lettin them have a go at it (inside the wall) - you know, Kid Art Graffiti. If we use primary colors it will go good with the school itself (see photo.)



A few weeks back we had these visitors to the school (for 150 rupees):



And here's our school band as well (a few members at least):




Now that Laskhmi is one goddess I have got to learn more about! Our lead teacher is Hindi (we have a mixed religion staff) so she can surely fix a shrine for us.

Thanks for the great ideas! And keep them coming? What should be served, how much for an elephant to put in an appearance? Like this fellow who came to school with the Melam men, :



only to be out-danced by Amal, our resident tap dancer!

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“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” - Rabindranath Tagore

Mehndi Masala

Rangoli is an art where you use everything from colored holi powder, mixed beans, colored rice to create an artwork on the floor. I'm sure there are oodles of really awsome ones online, but if you give me a couple of mins, I'll post a couple of the rangolis that were at the hotel. They can be very simple to complex. There are even special rangoli 'tools' that can be purchased.

I'm on it...I'll either post pix or a couple of links in an edit.

Kim

EDIT: Typical rangoli
http://web.mit.edu/sangam/www/diwali...os/Rangoli.jpg

complex rangoli
http://img2.travelblog.org/Photos/65...i-Design-1.jpg

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Fruit flies like a banana!



http://www.winnipeghenna.com

Nick-H

Rangoli here is normally called kolam. You can see some of our New Year 2007 kolam here

Here are one, two, three, from our housewarming ceremony

An interesting variety is when it is done with flowers in one of those round, shallow, earthenware bowls. I've seen it done in coloured rice and grains too.

I think elephants come expensive, but you should definately get your panchavadyam (five percussion instruments) group back to make an auspicious din

Best to respect the religious mix if your staff/kids for your shrine; you'll probably need something christian there as well.

That's an amazing Ganesh, MM: we really only see the flat geometric patterns here.

Diana

Sounds charming. Maybe we can do an even more "mini" version of the procession. Our kids uniforms will be ready by then as well so that's a nice way to show them off. I don't know if our children can pull off marching in formation though as they are very young and many don't walk. But what about a "parade" on a cart or wagon? I know in our local Lentil Festival Parade (yes, I live in the Lentil Capital of the U.S. only to travel to India to learn to like the darn things!) we often have flat bed wagon "floats" for kids, seniors, and other non-marchers.

MM & Nick-H, Those Rangoli/Kolam are gorgeous and more "permanent" than the flower pookalum.

Potential silly question: Do the rangoli always go on the ground or can they be made on a wall? Vertical plane?

I spoke with the senior staff and they are super excited...but pretty much insist on a BIG elephant. Pretty much all they insisted on...in that non-insisting way they have of insisting. But they say we can get one with handler for 2K so that will be the one big expense.

We've selected March 1 as the big day and they are already planning to step up the work on the garden in anticipation of guests. One teacher is also a traditional dance student and will speak to her class about performing.

Lead teacher suggested a simple performance using their musical instruments as so many don't talk yet or sing but all like to make noise (perhaps to recorded music.) For one child we tie bells to his ankle as that is the way to "talk" and he loves his bells!

Parents say they can donate the food. So that is a big help! One mom makes silk fabric flowers we can give to guests. And all will contribute flowers from their gardens. So this is really shaping up. Dancers will be free as will the panchavadyan (staff calls them "mela band"?) if we feed them. I love it when folks pitch in that way! Makes things that much more special.

vandy

Hi Diana, wherabouts in Kerala is the School.

Best wishes for your Grand Opening.

Rgds - vandy

Diana

Kunnamkulam, in Thrissur District. About 20 some km northeastish of Thrissur town.

And thanks! You've reminded me that I wanted to make sure all India Mikers know they are invited and welcome guests if they'll be in Kerala March 1, 2007.

Diana

Greetings IM Grand Opening advisers and Fans!

I'm back from India a week now and post-lag (getting old...it hits me harder than it used to) so am finally getting around to posting about the big event discussed "previously in this thread..."

Short story: A smashing success (after weeks of zany preparations, decisions, spreading about of rupees, AND anxious visits to formally, informally, casually, in writing, in writing to staff, traditionally, etc - inviting honored guests to attend)! Over 200 guests, families, neighbors, and friends attended. Sri Radhakrishnan, the Honourable Speaker of the Kerala State Legislature, was our Chief Guest and inaugurated the centre and celebration. Our District MLA was there (he's visited us before) as was our Municipal Chairman and Ward Councilor. Lots of speechs (including mine, the only one in English) and well wishes, gift packet of information and goodies (inscribed keychain/LCD lights and toys for the kids), chai and wada for the guests, all followed by a wonderful Cultural Program (read "talent show" if you are not Indian) by our preschoolers, their older sibs, parents, and staff members who performed traditional dance, songs in Malayalam, Hindi, and Arabic, fancy dress performances (the kids) and English preschool songs (also the kids). ---perhaps the first time typically developing and preschoolers with disabilities shared a stage for a school performance in Kerala.

So, how about I let the photos do the rest of my talking!?

Here's the link to the Grand Opening Slide Show: http://picasaweb.google.com/KeralaKi...ntreThrissurDt Click the "slideshow" button if it does not start automatically. Enjoy!

Nick-H

Great

Congratulations!

(And keep well in with those big-wig politicians )