‘Happy to see you Obama' reads a green poster in Holy Name High School in Colaba, Mumbai. Bent over their creation are five boys, deliberating over colour pens and paper flowers. “We don't know if we would get to meet Obama,” they stop to say and plunge back wholeheartedly into their chart-making.
It's Diwali vacation, and the school wears a deserted look, but peep into the community hall and you find two groups of children perfecting the choreography for the dance performances they would be giving before the U.S. President, when he visits the school with First Lady Michelle Obama, on November 7.
A group of eight girls are dancing to the number ‘Sarva Dharma Samabhav' (All religions are equal). “It's a diya [clay lamp] dance. We have been practising since three days. We are excited about meeting [Mr.] Obama because he is coming to our school for the first time,” says Anjali Prakash Ingle from class IX.
“We are very lucky to have such a powerful man visit our school. Our dance depicts the unity of India. Just as little drops make an ocean, love can spread over the whole world,” says Sneha Allam.
For Sneha the thought of missing a Diwali break is not bothering anyone. “For us, this is our Diwali celebration.”
In another corner, a small group of class IV students tap their feet to a ‘Koli' number — a song of the fisher community. “We chose to do a Koli dance to showcase the tradition of Maharashtra,” says Jerome D'Silva, a teacher. Besides the dances, models of environment-related projects would be put on display.
“The children will also give him Diwali cards, gifts and a portrait,” says Father Michael Pinto, the school Principal.
“Mr. Obama would light the ceremonial lamp on arrival at the school. He would then examine the various rangoli designs on display and even fill colours in one of them. After the cultural programme, there would be a short interaction with the students.”
