Milinid Makwana
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, June 15, 2012 (press release): Following the yearly tradition, Kapila Shakha in Cupertino celebrated Guru Vandana/Teacher Appreciation day on May 19th, 2012. The program was held on a Saturday morning at 10:00 A.M. in the multi-purpose room at Lincoln Elementary School of Cupertino. Over 100 individuals attended the program including 22 (non-Hindu) teachers from public and Montessori schools of Cupertino. The program exuded its essence of a Hindu’s reverence for a guru or teacher. A brief introduction to HSS and its activities was followed by Dhwaja Aarohan and Prarthana to commence the event. A Skit, dance performance and Surya Namaskar demonstration was presented by kids as a tribute to their teachers.
The kids marked the teacher’s forehead with tilak, performed aarti and touched their feet to seek blessings. A brief explanation to the custom’s significance alongside made the moment ooze with utmost regard for a guru or teacher held in a Hindu’s heart. To conclude the program Mr. Sairam from SJSU Yuva Shakha gave a talk on the concept of a Guru and the importance of teacher in one’s life. He concluded with an interesting anecdote which compared a teacher’s painstaking efforts to that of an eraser which gets dirty and diminishes to correct a pencil’s errors. “It’s amazing, it’s wonderful to know how much you value education…” expressed an art teacher from Cupertino High School. Another teacher from Cupertino High School thanked the event organizers, “It’s nice to see an organization helping students in their all round development to make great individuals”, she said. See this report by one teacher on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxkyU6IAVSY