Harish and Praveen Playing a Piano Duet!

6th grader Harish and 11th grader Praveen play the piano duet "I Love Coffee, I Love Tea" arranged by Bernard and Carolyn Shaak - the childhood piano teachers of Allegra Boggess, the current piano teacher at Shanti Bhavan. When asked if there's anything the children would like to say to Mrs. Shaak at the end of their performance, both students respond with enthusiasm!

Dancing with the (5th, 6th, & 7th Grade) Stars

Watch as some of our girls from the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades learn, practice, and perform a jazz dance choreographed by volunteer Jodi Belden who took a break from her work as assistant editor at Elle Magazine in New York City to come and work with our children in rural India.

November 13th was Children's Day and it was celebrated at Shanti Bhavan with lots of dancing, singing, skits, and ice cream!
Teachers dancing together.
Ms. Irene and Auntie Gita dancing together and looking beautiful, as always!

The volunteers singing a song together.
The children enjoying the program!

Photo Journal: Diwali Celebration at Shanti Bhavan

Take a look a look at how Shanti Bhavans celebrated Diwali 2010 through the camera lens of our artist in residence, Yazmany Arboleda.

Diwali (also spelled Devali in certain regions) or Deepavali, popularly known as the "festival of lights", is an important five-day festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November.

For Hindus, Diwali is the most important festival of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago,Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji.

The name "Diwali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvalī), which translates into "row of lamps".^[3]Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas or dīpas) in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali.

The kids at SB look forward to this day all year long, and to be witness to their joy as they play with all of the fireworks it a great blessing.

11th-graders Jancy and Divya decorate Shanti Bhavan for Diwali, festival of lights.