Allenhouse Public School students visit Sri Lankan School under exchange programme

The exchange programme between Allenhouse Public School, Ghaziabad,India and Vidyartha College Kandy, Sri Lanka was not only an exchange between two schools but also between two countries. The headmistress Mrs. Taruna Kapoor accompanied six children- Anshuman, Archie, Niharika,Anushka, Dhruv and Utsav with two teachers to Sri Lanka.

The start of the programme marked the same, with hoisting of flags followed by national anthems of both the countries being sung to commemorate this relationship. The guest of honours for the opening and closing ceremony were the Assistant High Commission of India in Sri Lanka Ms. Radha Venkatraman and British Council School Ambassador at British Council, Sri Lanka Mrs. Shamali Jayaratgne. 

Children not only had the chance to experience the cultures of a different country but also build a friendship with children who would never had crossed paths. With exploring the vast vegetation, temples, historical monuments and relishing the Sri Lankan delicacies, children had a practical experience of a place beyond their home. Performances portrayed by the host school gave glimpses of their famous dances like the famous Kandhyan dance one of the native dances Kandy, songs and musical instruments. 

The school did the same by performing kathak; performing yoga which brought the guest of honour to tears ;singing national songs and Hindu Bhajans thus, giving them an idea of india's diversity of languages, dances, religions, festivals. A small history and topography of our Taj Mahal gave the children of the host school an idea of india's immeasurable beauty and history. 

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The best part of the programme was the involvement of parents by hosting a lunch symbolizing their warm welcome especially by seeing the hoisting of Indian flag in a Sri Lankan Army Sing Regiment. The love and affection endowed by the parents and the teachers was a lesson to the children to blur the lines demarcated in our maps and globes, to see all as one and are friends from the same world where we all coexist. 

The School is now looking forward to return the warmth and love by hosting an exchange program with the same school to show that India not only is the originator of the saying 'Atithi Devo Bhava' but also preaches it.