My Friend Ganesha movie

Oh Yes! How could we forget showing the kids this lovely movie and latest movie... MY FRIEND GANESHA... And so we did!

The story revolves around a family of 4 members, Aaditya (Father), Aarti (Mother), Ashu (8 year old son), Aditi (Father's Sister) and a maid (Gangubai). The parents of the boy are too involved in their daily lives and hence cannot give much time to the boy who always feels lonely. He would only get to be with the maid.On one rainy day the boy saves a mouse from drowning and saves his life. He brings the small mouse home and tells the maid about it. She is very happy and tells the boy that he has saved Lord Ganesha's pet ride. The boy not being able to understand Gangubai explains to him the full episode of Lord Ganesha & Mushakraj and also that he is his friend. Ashu gets sad and tells Gangubai that he is also alone and needs a friend on which she tells him that Ganesha can be his friend. The boy gets excited at this thought. It was a period where the Family was going through crisis & was coinciding with the forthcoming Ganesha Festival. Gangubai somehow convinces everyone to bring Ganesha home this festival. Ashu is very excited, Ganesha comes in their home and things started turning around in their family. Ganesha becomes Ashu's friend and together with him solves various problems of their family. Together they have a lot of fun these 11 days.

It was great to have over 100 people out of which 80 were kids to watch the movie together and create that attachment towards their own made ganapatis.

We also had a great interval ...were we had popcorn juices and sandwiches toghther.

After the movie we gave out a ganapti competion to all kids...a Crossword and a word search about our friend ganesha.The winner would get 2 free tickets to the cinema at Gran Sur for the movie of their choice. Good luck to all

Ganpati Pyjama Party

After the evening bhajan kirtan and aarti, all of the people went back home... Except us!!! Yup, we were all willing to have a great time at our very own Ganapati Pyjama Nite. A very promising nite full of many surprises and more of all, we would get to stay the night with our very special friend: Ganesha.

The kids were a bit nervous at first coz' most of their mothers were going away, but actually the mothers were more nervous ;)

Well fun time began...we were 25 kids and 5 adults. We played a very special Ladoon Game toghether, we had story time, questions and doubts the kids had about ou religion and Ganpati, and we answered and tried to solve their doubts, then we had a few bhajans, chinese telephone game, x and o game, story making game... and lots more!!!

Then after all this we had snack time... popcorns, biscuits, chips, chocolates, and milk. And to our surprise it was already 4 am! We all went to sleep as we had to rise up early for the morning aarti! And of course a few stayed up till even later.Morning all woke up by 8,30, to clear up, and have breakfast before aarti.

Would like to thank all the kids who came, and also Anjana, Amrita, Gehna, Kiran and Pooja for helping that night, And off course the ICC for allowing us to have a memorable night at their premises. Thanks!

Here are some pics of the night and morning aarti. Enjoy them!

Thanks To...

As they always say... Better late than never!! ;)

On behalf of the ICC Kids Camp we would like to Thank the ICC (Indian Cultural Centre), The full team of AHTS (Asociacion hindu de Tenerife Sur), The full team of TAN (Tenerife Asian News), The full team of the AAINA Magazine, Mr. Gope Mahtani and his full team, Mr. Purushottam, Mr. Kanayalal Mirpuri, Mr. Prakash Udhwani, Mr. Rajesh Pursnani, Ms. Conchi Pursani, Ms. Harsha Mirpuri, Ms. Kiran Mirpuri, Ms. Vaishali Mirchandani, Ms. Gehna Bhavnani, Ms. Nireka Buxani, Ms. Pooja Fabiani, Mr. Sonu Godhwani, Mr. Rakesh Godhwani, Ms. Shalu Uttamchandani, Ms. Jhanvi Bhatia, Ms. Anjana Pridhnani, Ms. Simran Dadlani, Ms. Karishma Narwani, Ms. Neetu Narwani, Ms. Monica Chandnani, Ms. Kajal Bhambani, Ms. Deepa Ramchandani, Ms. Shalu Daryanani, Ms. Nutan Ramchandani, Ms. Kavita Tilani, Ms. Manisha Sujan, Ms. Rekha Adwani, Ms. Shweta Sikka, Ms. Mali Harpalani, Ms. Chandni Gopwani, Ms. Muskan Amarnani, Ms. Priti Balani...

And last but not the least ALL the mothers and CHILDRENS, who have participated in our various activities, and All of you who have shown their interest, Help and Support in our Journey to teach our future generations our culture in a Fun and Creative way!

Thank you. This wouldn't have been possible without each and everyone of you :)

ICC KIDS CAMP

Maha Ganpati Utsav Celebration 2007

After many days of waiting, here it came!!! Bolo Shri Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai! Ganpati Bappa... MORIYA!!!

On saturday 15th september the grand day arrived! We were all at the ICC doing the Staphna of all the Ganpati Murtis also made by the kids! All looking so special on their day! We even gave out the 108 names of Ganapati and the aarti of Ganpati to all so that they could recite them do their ganpati.

During the whole week Aartis and Bhajans were chanted morning and night, creating an unique atmosphere and plenty of ladoos and modaks was eaten and given to all the ganpatis...

The week went by so fast that we didn't even come to know. Our friend Ganpati came this year to spend 9 unforgetful days with us and the last day we had a wonderful farewell...
On 23rd September at the ICC, we had a Satnarayan Katha followed by Havan in the morning. And then, in the afternoon it was followed by a MAHA LANGAR, where we had over 1000 people who came to bid our Lord away and share the last moments with him this year.

In the evening just before the Visarjan we all got together and chanted bhajans, Dhunis, danced and sang for our Friend Ganapti.



Then the sad time began...we had to take our Ganpatis off to the sea...where he belonged...with deep sorrow and excitment we kept on chanting to him... All the kids carried their own Ganpatis one by one with their families to the sea at Bahía del Duque beach.

Once we all gathered at the beach....over 1200 people, we created an unique atmosphere for the visarjan, just like in India, all singing, dancing , chanting... GANPATI BAPPA MORIYA... PUDCHA VARSI LODKARYA!! Come back soon next year


We performed Aarti for the last time before bidding ganpati farewell, and then the immersions began. Again, one by one all the murtis were taken by the kids and their Families back to its origin... He had to go back home...



Enjoy more than 250 photos in picasa and some amazing videos on youtube (Part1, Part2, Part3, Part4, Part5)

Making Ganpati Murtis

Name any Pooja and then think of a God's name present in all of them... Do you know whom are we talking about? The most prayed Lord Ganesha.

Ganpati Chaturthi is a day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees. For this occasion Indians worship the clay idol of Ganpati for 11 days and then send him back to the sea singing "Ganpati Bappa Moriya Pudch Varshi Lodkarya..."

This year we decided that all our kids should make their own Ganpati and amazingly 108 murtis were made, as the 108 Names of Ganesh! Woh! Is this a coincidence? So many beautiful Ganpatis ventured that the Ganesh Visarjan was going to be promisingly outstanding!

During several weeks kids came to the ICC punctually to sculpt, paint and decorate their little Ganpatis. And all of it thanks to Uncle Kan (Mr. Kanayalal Mirpuri), Harsha Mirpuri, and Conchi Pursnani. Hats off to them!

All these murtis were ready before the Staphna, on 15th september 2007, the beginning of the most waited religiuos function in India and here in Tenerife!

All the photos, as always, here...

Janmashtmi Celebration 2007

The Day arrived to celebrate the Birth of Lord Krishna with our very own little kids!

It was a fabulous evening where we enjoyed the magical Baal Leelas and Raas Leelas of Baby Krishna and experienced the atmosphere of Brindavan in the ICC. The hall was decorated with the matkas, Jhulas and the poster made by the kids the weeks before.


The Janmashtmi play and dances was organized by some of the kids favorite teachers... You guessed right! Sonu (Suresh) and Rakesh Godhwani. Thanks to their constant efforts we were to see our little stars performing in HINDI. Isn´t that amazing... The same kids who at home do not want to talk in their native language but then, on stage and in front of so many people, spoke it so well. Congratulations Sonu and Rakesh!

Here are some glimpses of the night

Janmashtmi Activities

After our Independence day it was the turn of our most loved baby God: Little Krishna. We had to prepare our kids to celebrate Janmashtmi.

The kids did three wonderful handicrafts during six classes: they learned how to make the Gopis Matkis, the fabricated sweet little Jhulas for the Baby Krishna, and they painted a huge stage poster for the Janmashtmi program that was held at the ICC on 3rd September 2007 in the night.


All this was taught to the Kids by Ms. Pooja Fabiani, so we would like to thank her sincerely for all her collaboration.

Don't forget to admire the kids work having a look at the photos.

60th Independence Day Gala

It was 15th August in the morning and many kids were really nervous... It was an important day for all Indians and THEY had a starring role: they were the main performers in the 60th Indian Independence Day ICC Kids Camp Gala.

All the handicrafts the kids did the previous weeks were used to decorate the ICC: there were flags, balloons, paper loops, streamers...

It was a fun-full evening with many different activities.

The kids sang Sare Jahan Se Acha to start the evening.


Disha and Deepali made us enjoy with a superb dance, Desh Rangeela.


Gayatri recited a fabulous poem about Jhasi ki Rani.


We had the public putting their hands together for the rocking Avi, Neha, Anu, Eshna, Manish, Dimpi, Rohit and Sharin delighted us with their fantastic jatkas and matkas during four great songs.


The public played four different games in which we all had a blast: a family quiz, a pegs competition, blindfold guess what's in and a timed sari draping, all of it hosted by lovely Mali and Sonia.


To end such an entertaining evening we had the Flag Hoisting and Diya Lighting by Mr. Gope Mahtani (Counsel General), Mr. Jagdish Fabiani (AHTS President) and Mr. Purshottam Bhagwani (ICC President) followed by the singing of our National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana


We would like to thank many people that made this evening possible: Rajesh, Kan Uncle, Kiran, Rekha, Sweta, Anjana, Simran, Mali, Sonia, Neetu, Karishma, Prakash Uncle, Purshottam, both Jyoti Aunties, Jhanvi, Shalu, Deepa, Nutan, Kavita, Shalu, Manisha, all the children and many more...

Here is a glimpse of the evening...

Preparing Indian Independence Day

15th August is a very important day in all our calenders: India's Independence Day।


We wanted the kids to learn more about our own Bharat, so we thought of various activities related to India, its colours, its food, its music, its essence...

The kids made long strings of loops with the three colours of our flag: deep saffron, white and green; they made a huge flag of India with their hand prints; many small flags were made out of Indian food articles and flower/leaves of the corresponding colours; some of the kids even prepared dances and poems for the Grand Show and last, but not least, the kids learned by heart the Sare Jahan Se Acha poem and our National Anthem Jana Gana Mana.

Raksha Bandan Activities

As Raksha Bandhan was approaching we thought... Why don´t we teach the kids to make their own personal rakhees for their brothers! And so we did.

With the help and guidance of Ms. Nireka Buxani, we got together and taught them Rakhi Making.

But we went one step further and also tought them to make Thalis for this auspicious ocassion. Here are the pictures of the outcome of these wonderful activities.


Check out the kids creativity having a look at the rest of the photos!

Krishna Movie and Quiz

After the Tulsi Planting, we made all the kids see India´s 1st 3D Animated Film: KRISHNA ...aayo natkhat nandlal.

After the movie we made the kids play a quiz. There were four teams and the winner would be the one the highest score.

This time the winner was the MAKHANCHOR´S Group. Congratulations to them!!

Tulsi Planting

Our next event was teaching the Kids to plant their own Tulsi, The Sacred Indian Plant.

The Response was amazing... Over 80 Tulsi pots were planted on that day! Once they finished we made them chant the Gayatri Mantra and do the Aarti of their Tulsis, reminding them they would have to do in their own houses everyday.

Click here if you want to know more about why do we consider Tulsi sacred.

Día De Canarias

Día de Canarias was our first event... 30th May 2007.

The Kids did paintings, drawings, made Canarian flags... and they got to decorate the ICC wall with them. For the Ladies... We had a CANARIAN BINGO... and the winner got 4 Tickets to Loro Parque!

It was a really nice evening together, lost of fun, laughter, and off course great to see the amazing pictures and flags done by the kids.

Don't miss out the evening's photos!