Nithya, a Class XII student, won a quiz contest for the first time in her life on Sunday. “I have been selected for inter-school competitions twice before, but I could not make it, for there was no one to accompany me,” said the inmate of a children’s home in the city, whose mother works as a help in a hotel. “Today, I made up for those missed chances,” she adds with a smile. For 527 children aged between seven and 17, from 15 children’s homes in Tiruchi, ‘Nakshatra’, the talent fest held for underprivileged children was a day to discover talents, forge friendships and have wholesome fun.
Organised for the first time in Tiruchi by Bhumi, a youth volunteer organisation, the fourth edition of the Chennai-based event has acquired a national presence. The event saw a similar response in Bangalore earlier this month and will move to New Delhi next, said K.K. Prahalathan, co-founder of Bhumi. Nakashatra also signified the first year of the organisation’s presence in the city, said Lakshmi Narayanan, coordinator of the chapter. The organisation provides supplementary education for children in orphanages and slums. A total of 15 events provided scope for the literary, artistically and culturally inclined to exhibit their prowess. While group dance and group song received the heartiest of cheers from the audience that filled the dome shaped open-air auditorium at Care College of Engineering, creativity was at its best in events like junk art and face painting. “This was the first time I’ve painted on a face,” said a positively thrilled Sathiyanarayanan, from Dhiksha in Manapparai, whose imagination ran riot with his friend’s face as canvas. “I mixed up colours painting a forest, with the sun coming out of clouds on top and water gushing down below,” he described. For Sanjaykumar and friends from King Jesus, their skit was the highpoint of the day, though it did not fetch them prizes. “We only get to participate in races, speech and writing competitions in school. Today, we put up a skit,” said Sanjay. “We had fun rehearsing the fighting scene, but I forgot to kick him (my friend) on stage,” he adds ruefully.
Shakunthala and Anupriya, had never heard of an Adzap contest before, but managed to wow the audience with a footwear commercial. “The idea was new to us. We had to advertise a product that was given to ten minutes before we went on stage,” said Anupriya. “The judges told us it was as good as a television ad,” said Shakunthala.
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But the volunteers were more jubilant than participants. “We wanted the children to come and enjoy an entire day, without any hassles. From transport to the venue, breakfast, lunch and materials for contests, we provided everything,” said Ranjini, coordinator. “Seeing the happy faces, we know our efforts have paid off.” Earlier, P.R.Pandi, president, ORBIT inaugurated the event and Prathive Chand, CEO, CARE Group of Institutions, gave away the prizes.