A Symphony with Nature: Our Mindful Walk (By Jemisha D, Pooja S and Tulsa M)

There are moments when the universe conspires to create perfect little pockets of magic. Today was one such day, when our classroom walls dissolved into the vast canvas of nature, and lessons transformed into living, breathing experiences.

As we stepped beyond the familiar embrace of our school gates, the world opened up like a treasured book waiting to be read. The path ahead meandered between emerald fields, a ribbon of earth cutting through nature’s tapestry. Above us, clouds played hide and seek with the sun, their shadows dancing across the landscape like gentle thoughts floating across a quiet mind.

The wind, oh the wind! It whispered secrets to the grass, making waves across the fields that reminded me of ocean swells in slow motion. Each cool breeze carried the essence of earth and sky, filling our lungs with air that felt almost sacred in its purity. Our hair danced with the breeze, and for a moment, we were all children again, giggling at nature’s playful touch.

In the school farm, we discovered treasures that no textbook could ever fully capture. Hidden among the foliage were fruits we’d never seen before, their existence a delightful surprise in our familiar surroundings. The farmers, with their weather-worn hands and sun-kissed faces, shared their wisdom with the patience of those who understand that some lessons can only be learned through touch and experience.

But it was the paddy fields that stole our hearts completely. For an hour that felt both eternal and fleeting, we stood ankle-deep in cool mud, learning the ancient art of sowing. The earth squelched between our toes, a primordial connection to generations of farmers who had stood exactly where we stood. Our laughter echoed across the fields as we fumbled with the seedlings, each mistake a step toward understanding, each success a tiny victory celebrated by all.

The monsoon clouds above added their own drama to our adventure, their gray grandeur making everything feel more alive, more significant. The occasional cool spray of rain was like nature’s blessing on our endeavors, turning an ordinary school day into something extraordinary.

As we worked alongside the farmers, their skilled hands guiding our inexperienced ones, we learned more than just agriculture. We learned about patience, about the rhythm of the earth, about the poetry written in every seed planted with hope. Their knowledge, passed down through generations, flowed into us like the very water that would nurture these tender shoots.

This wasn’t just a field trip; it was a communion with the earth itself. In those precious hours, we were reminded that education isn’t confined to classrooms and books. Sometimes, the most profound lessons come from feeling the soil beneath our feet, from watching clouds paint stories across the sky, from experiencing the timeless dance of humans and nature working in harmony.

As we reluctantly made our way back to school, our uniforms slightly muddy and our hearts considerably fuller, we carried with us more than just memories. We carried a deeper understanding of our connection to the earth, to our food, to each other. The mundane had transformed into the magical, and ordinary moments had become extraordinary memories.

In this age of screens and speed, our mindful walk was a gentle reminder that sometimes the richest experiences come from slowing down, looking up, and allowing ourselves to be embraced by the simple wonders that surround us. It was a day when nature wasn’t just a backdrop to our learning, but the teacher herself.

And as I sit here writing this, I can still feel the cool mud between my toes, still hear the whisper of wind through the paddy fields, still sense the profound peace that comes from being fully present in a moment of perfect harmony with the world around us. Some lessons leave their mark not in notebooks, but in hearts, and today’s symphony with nature was one such indelible experience.

#Foodxplorers S3

A Walk in Nature: A Day to Remember

Spending time in greenery is always refreshing. Recently, we went on a nature walk to KG Farm that was filled with the beauty of the outdoors. The air was fresh, and the sight of green trees all around felt calming. As we walked along the trail, we noticed so many different types of flowers and leaves. Some were bright and colorful, while others were tiny and hidden among the bushes. We even found leaves with unique shapes and patterns, which made us curious about their names and uses.

Walking through the greenery gave us a sense of peace. Listening to the chirping birds and the rustling leaves felt like music from nature. We realized how important it is to step away from the busy world and spend time in such calm surroundings.

After the nature walk, we had the chance to try something new—paddy sowing. The journey to the paddy field was quite an adventure! The path was narrow and muddy, and we had to be very careful not to slip. But the excitement of what lay ahead kept us going. When we reached the field, we saw farmers working hard, planting rice in rows. It looked simple, but once we stepped into the muddy water, we realized it required patience and skill.

Standing barefoot in the cool mud was a strange but fun feeling. The water splashed around as we worked together, planting the small rice seedlings. It was tiring, but we felt proud to be part of such an important process.

This experience taught us a lot about nature and hard work. The tricky path to the field and the effort of sowing paddy made us appreciate the food we eat even more. Spending a day surrounded by greenery and trying something new was truly worth it. It’s a memory we will always treasure, and we hope to go on more such adventures in the future.

– Khushboo S and Gopa P

Love Class

Life classes have profoundly reshaped my understanding of emotions, love, and growth. The idea that “things that hurt, instruct” struck a deep chord with me, transforming how I view challenges. Embracing pain as a teacher has helped me see obstacles as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks. The Love class was especially moving, exploring the depth of love and its connection to vulnerability and sacrifice. Hearing diverse stories about love expanded my perspective, turning the session into a heartfelt and enriching experience. A heartfelt thanks to the facilitators for their wisdom, creating a space for reflection, connection, and transformation.

Unveiling Unseen Places

We have been to Nargol, where we had planned to explore the Parsi culture. We learned that no community is allowed in the Fire Temple of Parsis and the reason behind this custom. We could not learn much about the culture, but since we were in a group of colleagues, we enjoyed the time. We visited the Bird sanctuary at Daman, which was also a nice experience. We visited a fort and a church and had lunch at a Dhaba. Overall, we enjoyed it as a fun trip. 
Sarika Agarwal & Ranjana Tandon.

Love Class

Honestly, sharing life classes have profoundly changed my viewpoints and perspectives, leading to a positive transformation in my life. These sessions have provided me with practical knowledge that has reshaped how I view the world, particularly the concept that life inherently involves suffering and how we can learn from it. One of the most significant takeaways for me has been the idea that “things that hurt, instruct.” This simple yet powerful insight has taught me to embrace challenges and hardships as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks. It’s a reminder that every painful experience carries a lesson, a chance to gain wisdom and resilience. The classes have helped me develop a deeper understanding of love, not just as an emotion, but as a force that guides us through difficulties. Overall, these lessons have not only expanded my intellectual grasp of life’s complexities but also deeply impacted my emotional and spiritual well-being. I now see obstacles as part of the journey toward greater self-awareness and strength.

Life Classes(Love class) – Day 5 & 6

The Love class has been a deeply emotional experience for me, especially when we explored the connection between love and pain. We often think of love as a beautiful, uplifting feeling, but there’s another side to it—one that involves vulnerability, sacrifice, and sometimes, emotional pain.

During the class, it became clear that love isn’t just about joy and affection.The hurt that comes when we care deeply for others, the heartache we sometimes endure, and the vulnerability that makes us truly connect. Understanding this aspect of love has helped me realize that pain isn’t something to avoid or fear. Instead, it is part of the process of growing deeper in love, both with ourselves and with others. The second day of the Love class stands out as one of the most heartwarming experiences I’ve had. Listening to everyone’s stories about their definitions of love was deeply moving. It was enlightening to hear how each person’s view of love was shaped by their own experiences, and these reflections expanded my understanding of the topic in unexpected ways. The openness and honesty with which everyone shared created a truly special, safe space for reflection and connection.

A heartfelt thank you to our facilitators for guiding us through these powerful realizations. Their openness and ability to create a space where we could explore both the beauty and the complexities of love was invaluable. Their passion made this journey through love and pain a truly enriching and eye-opening experience.

Emotions: An inevitable part of living

“I don’t ever want to feel sad…”

What a wishful thinking, I reckon.

It wasn’t too long ago that I realised not wanting to feel an emotion is never a ‘good’ option. As a bandaid option, yes, sounds great. However, will that feeling come back to haunt you sometime later in life, in a different setting, in a different way?
Probably yes.

How do you deal with a wind-whirl of feelings and emotions that come hitting you across your face, with an increasing pain in your stomach that doesn’t resemble butterflies anymore, and an aching, sharp, deafening sound that leaves you hearing your own heartbeat?
It sounds scary and overwhelming.

From these life classes, I take back one thing – ways to manage my emotions: Acceptance.

Acceptance comes in various forms – maybe in search of truth, maybe through the learnings of Buddha, or maybe through therapy.

My form is acceptance?
Therapy!

When discussing these unsettling emotions, I have a nerve to discuss something pleasant (my way to deal with discomfort, I guess?). Love, no? I mean, the two days of life classes were dedicated to this very emotion. Love in every form – be it familial, platonic or romantic. However, something I really enjoyed was knowing what this particular class has done crazy in love. There’s something mischievous, flirty and innocent in sharing what each of us has done to express the extent of love we feel.

Abrupt ending – thanks.

LIfe Classes – Day 5 & 6

A Question I Am Left With After This Life Class:

Many of us are familiar with the age-old phrase, “Ignorance is bliss,” but is ignorance really bliss? I found this excerpt from the book particularly thought-provoking: “What makes life difficult is that the process of confronting and solving problems is a painful one.” The key, I think, is becoming aware of that pain—acknowledging it, making space for it in our lives, and spending time getting to know it. This is what makes the difference. Once we become familiar with that pain in a way that allows us not to hold on to it, we set ourselves free and transcend it.

Another moment that stood out to me was the activity we did on the second day of the Love class. It was incredibly wholesome to hear everyone’s stories about what love means to them. It was truly enjoyable. A big thank you to our facilitators for their time, energy, and infectious enthusiasm.

Unvelining Unseen places – Day 5 and 6

पारसी संस्कृति

Open minded (पूर्वाग्रहमुक्त)

उदवाडा और नारगोल में स्थित पारसी लोगों की रहनसहन, खानपान एवं धर्म के प्रति उनकी निष्ठा देखकर पता चलता है कि वे अपनी संस्कृति का आदर करते हैं | उन्होंने भारतीय संस्कृति में से भाषा, रहनसहन और विभिन्न कला को आत्मसात किया जैसे ‘दूध में शक़्कर में घूल जाती” है | उनके रहन – सहन की बात करें तो साधी जीवन शैली और विनम्र स्वभाव |

हर घर के सामने अग्नि और कुआँ का होना यह दर्शाता कि ये दोनों उनकी संस्कृति का हिस्सा है | उनके खान – पान की बात करें तो उनके मसाले भी अलग है | जिससे उनकी पहचान बनी है | उनके घर के आँगन में रंगोली और तोरण भी होते हैं | तोरण में मुर्गा या मुर्गी खास कर के होते है वे उन्हें Goodluck मानते है |

इस तरह उनका प्रकृति के प्रति प्रेमभाव दिखाई दिया |

स्नेहा गद्रे और वैशाली पटेल ( ILT )

Storytelling (Day 5,6)

In our storytelling life class, we delved into the fascinating concept of Abhinaya—the art of expression in storytelling. We explored the four types of Abhinaya through an insightful video that provided detailed explanations for each type:

1. Angika Abhinaya: Expressions through body movements.

2. Vachika Abhinaya: Verbal expressions through dialogue or sound.

3. Aharya Abhinaya: Use of costumes, makeup, and props to convey emotions.

4. Satvika Abhinaya: Portrayal of inner feelings and emotional states.

After understanding these elements, we applied our learning by crafting a story, developing its beginning, middle, and end, and narrating it with expressive techniques inspired by the Abhinayas.

To enrich our understanding further, we watched the movie Rockstar, which beautifully encapsulates the essence of storytelling and emotional expression. The movie helped us draw parallels between cinematic storytelling and the Abhinayas, adding depth to our learning experience.

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