International Society for Krishna Consciousness ISKCON’s Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, Gate No 2 Behind Empress Mall, established by Srila Lokanath Swami Maharaj, a beloved disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada ISKCON Nagpur organized a Value Education Contest (VEC) centered on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, fostering spiritual growth and knowledge among the school children. The culminating event of prize distribution ceremony, conducted in the court yard of Shri Shri Radha Gopinath Temple, was a celebration of wisdom and academic excellence.
The program commenced with a soul-stirring Kirtan of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare.” setting a harmonious tone for the day. As a chief guest of honour Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, the Director of IIM Nagpur, graced the gathering. His insightful words resonated with the audience, emphasizing the importance of values and holistic education. The audience was then inspired by the motivational address from His Grace Aradhya Bhagavan Das, a senior monk, youth counsellor and community guide, who encouraged the participating children to imbibe the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
Spokesman of ISKCON Nagpur Dr. Shyamsunder Sharma informed the press that the highlight of the event was the prize distribution ceremony, which brimmed with enthusiasm and anticipation. The students were lauded and awarded in four distinct categories, by recognizing their cognitive skills and understanding of the teachings of Bhagavad Gita. The prize winners included School Toppers (who were given Gold & Silver Medals), and the overall Top 3 Rankers across schools of Nagpur in two categories – 5th to 7th std and 8th to 10th std.
In the Category of 8th to 10th Standard, Jayita Prasad, of class 9th from DPS Kamptee, clinched the first position. Anushka Bagadia of DPS Mihan, also a 9th grader, secured second position & Soham Muthal, of class 10th from RS MUNDLE, secured the third position. In the Category of 5th to 7th Std, Manan Agarwal, of class 6th from Sandipani, bagged first position. Aaditya Singh, of class 7th from DPS Kamptee, secured second position and Falit Hudiya, of class 5th from DPS Kamptee, secured third position. The First Prize was a gear bicycle, the second prize was a Smart Watch while the third prize was a school bag.
With a heartfelt gesture, teachers were also felicitated with tokens of appreciation, recognizing their invaluable contribution to the holistic development of the students. The ceremony concluded on a joyous note with the distribution of delicious prasadam, symbolizing communal harmony and shared blessings. The event stood as a testament to the commitment of ISKCON Nagpur towards nurturing young minds and fostering values deeply rooted in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Gopal Leela das alias Girish Prabhu thanked all the teachers, students and team of organizers.