Maati Utsav
(World Earth Day)
Date : 22nd & 24th April, 2013
Every year, Bal Bhavan Jaipur celebrates World Earth Day
in its unique manner. For two or three days, centered around the 22nd
of April, children from a myriad of socio economic and educational backgrounds
come together to reconnect with our country’s rich cultural philosophy that
emphasises the need for a wholesome and sustainable existence.
Each day of the Maati Utsav begins with Dharti Naman. This delineates the philosophy as well as the methodology of the Maati Utsav. It is meant to reintroduce our young citizens to the Vedic school of thought which emphasised not just coexistence but harmonious coexistence with the wonderful natural world that surrounds us. With none of the religious trappings, the Dharti Naman launches the Maati Utsav with a pragmatic approach that finds a natural flow connecting the Vedic and Buddhist philosophies through to the Bhakti and Sufi saints while reminding the participants of its relevance in our contemporary lives.
Each day of the Maati Utsav begins with Dharti Naman. This delineates the philosophy as well as the methodology of the Maati Utsav. It is meant to reintroduce our young citizens to the Vedic school of thought which emphasised not just coexistence but harmonious coexistence with the wonderful natural world that surrounds us. With none of the religious trappings, the Dharti Naman launches the Maati Utsav with a pragmatic approach that finds a natural flow connecting the Vedic and Buddhist philosophies through to the Bhakti and Sufi saints while reminding the participants of its relevance in our contemporary lives.
The Maati Utsav engages each participant with a hands-on
approach. The Participants learn and express themselves though clay modelling,
pottery, poster making, creative writing and many other such activities. Even
when they are involved in these activities, the participants are continuously
challenging themselves to do each task in such a manner so as to do no harm to
nature. The Carbon Footprint is no longer a mere academic concept and the Maati
Utsav makes each participant appreciate and appraise their own individual
impact upon the environment. The activities seek to highlight how these
individual actions converge to form the greater impact of our society, our
country and the human species as a whole! With this understanding in place, the
children and facilitators alike are much better able to appreciate the impact
of small individual acts of awareness. These too coalesce together to have an
indelible impact on the larger scale.
The Maati Utsav collectively addresses a host of
environmental concerns such as deforestation, ozone depletion, depleting water
resources, poaching etc without individually focussing on any of them. Each
year, the Maati Utsav felicitates 10 outstanding participants who are chosen by
their peers and who further spread the message throughout the year. It is hoped
that these individuals would provide the feedback and the impetus to make the
Maati Utsav itself a self sustaining and self nurturing enterprise.
Workshops:-
- Clay-modeling
- Poster making
- Mr. Sudhir Verma - Famous contemporary & traditional painter
- Students of Rajasthan School of Art, Jaipur
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