Creativity, fun mark DHiE fest

Over 500 students from 17 schools take part in various contests

Imagination, creativity, laughter, fun and chatter was high at the Deccan Herald in Education (DHiE) competitions organised at SDM Law College in Mangalore on Saturday.

More than 500 students from over 17 schools participated in the drawing, pick and speak, fancy dress and dance competitions.

Inaugurating the programme, SDM Law College Principal Prof B K Ravindra said that children should be involved in extra-curricular activities as it helps in all round development. He also expressed his pleasure on the large number of students’ presence to participate in the competitions.

The inaugural was followed by the fancy dress competition, where the students won the audience praise with their innovative ideas and costumes. Don’t cut trees, don’t kill girl child, respect freedom fighters, farmers are the spine of the nation were the various messages children portrayed with their roles.

When culture was depicted through the Yakshagana and Kathak performances, a little kid surprised the audience by appearing from a pillar as Narasimha and killing Heeranyakashyap. However, the young audience screamed with glee when a kid dressed as ‘Avataar’ jumped on the stage from the audience performing a hunting dance.

An ostrich, a worm struggling to eat a leaf, a dwarf joker and a mouse getting trapped in a mouse-trap were the other performances appreciated by the audience. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Pratiksha of St Aloysius High School who had donned the role of Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai said that she chose the concept to introduce the great personality to the young generation.

“Peole should know the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters,” she said. Deeksha from Vivekananda School said that she enjoyed participating as well as watching other performances. “Such competitions enhance creativity,” she said.

Group dance
The fancy dress was followed by the group dance competitions. St Gereosa School students, who performed a contemporary dance, told Deccan Herald that they are participating in DHiE for the first time and they hope to participate in future. The students of Gujarathi English Medium School put up an impressive performance of Mahishasura Mardhini. They performed in Navashakthi and Marathi styles.

Students of Nobel School, gave a celebration touch to their performace with a ‘Mehendhi function’ dance in a Muslim Nikaah.

Pick and Speak
Children’s creativity and communication skills were tested with the pick and speak competition. The students were made to speak on simple topics such as teacher, games, movies, homework and others.

Anushree of Joyland School said that, this competition is a real challenge as one has to speak, just minutes after getting the topic. “We don’t have time to think and we have to use our imagination,” she said.

Drawing imagination
The drawing competition was conducted for the junior category. Students were given the topic ‘My Home’. Each child depicted their home with bright colours and a loving family.
In the senior category, students were asked to paint on Youthful India. Each child depicted his view on India in a unique way. Some painted on development, art, culture, dance and even the latest Anna Hazare campaign.

Nitin from Gujarathi High School who has been participating for the third time in DHiE contests, said that the competition makes one think, hence enhances creative ideas.
“Talents should not be neglected in later life. It should enhance with age than disappear,” said Nitte University Controller of Examinations Alka Kulkarni in her valedictory address. DH Staff Narasimha Murthy proposed a vote of thanks. General Manager (Circulation) Shivramkrishna, Senior Manager (Circulation) Shivraj Narona were present on the occasion.

Winners of  Pick and Speak

Pick and Speak (Junior category): 1st prize - Nishan of Sri Rama Krishna Primary school and Swasthik of Sri Rama Krishna Primary school; 2nd prize - Kripa Maria of St Gerosa School; 3rd Prize - Anushri of Infant Jesus Joyland School.
Pick and Speak (Senior category): 1st prize -    Suhrit D of St Aloysius High School; 2nd prize - Prinston of St Aloysius High school and Chaitanya Krishna of Jawahar Navodaya School; 3rd Prize - Pratham of Jawahar Navodaya School.