Australia/Sydney: Young students of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Sanskrit Vidyalaya, New South Wales created history by staging all the six chapters of Valmiki Ramayana in India's ancient classical language i.e. Sanskrit. This unprecedented cultural achievement was achieved during the annual festival celebration of the school at the Regency Function Center in Sydney.
Indian scriptures, Puranas and religious texts have had religious, cultural, philosophical and historical influence in countries around the world since the ancient times, so even today they are performed and staged in some form or the other in many countries from time to time. In this series, students of VHP Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia were selected. Students of each branch of the school were given the responsibility of presenting one chapter of Valmiki Ramayana. More than 200 students below the age of fifteen participated in this historic staging of Valmiki Ramayana.
The children mesmerized the audience by performing the Valmiki Ramayana during the school's annual function celebrations at the Regency Function Centre in Sydney. Students from all branches performed all the six chapters of this ancient epic in Sanskrit language. The six chapters of Valmiki Ramayana performed by the students of Sanskrit Vidyalaya included Bal Kand - the story of Lord Rama's divine origin and childhood, Ayodhya Kand - the touching story of exile and sonly duty, Aranya Kand - the hardships of forest life and the abduction of Sita, Kishkinda Kand - friendship with Sugreeva and Hanuman's valour, Sundar Kand - Hanuman's heroic journey to Lanka, Lanka Kand - the climactic battle and the eternal victory of Dharma over Adharma.
On this occasion, under the supervision of the experienced coordinators of the school, the students performed with linguistic accuracy with authentic traditional costumes and decorations, reflecting the cultural grandeur of the epic. The New South Wales Education Department of the Government of Australia honoured seven students for their outstanding achievements in Sanskrit learning and cultural participation. Seven students of VHP Sanskrit Vidyalaya received prestigious awards, including Minister Award to Gambhir Shastri, Highly Commended Award to Praharsh Rao, Highly Commended Award to Lakshya Pradeep, Commended Award to Manasa Chirag Bhatnagar, Merit Award to Pranati Basavanahalli Prashant, Merit Award to Devika Midigesi and Merit Award to Rachit Raj.
VHP Sanskrit Vidyalaya Coordinator and National General Secretary of VHP Australia Akila Ramrathinam said that it is a great pleasure to see that our young generation is preserving and propagating the great heritage of our Sanatan culture and ancient language in Australia too. This achievement is a shining example of cultural continuity and devotion.
VHP Sanskrit Vidyalaya, recognised as a Community Language School of Sanskrit by the New South Wales Education Department, operates six centres in The Ponds, Carlingford, Homebush, Nuwara, Toongabbie and Waitara. This institution is committed to promoting Sanskrit education and cultural values among the youth. Maharishi Valmiki's Ramayana has the highest place among the highest epics of various languages of the world. The faith, religiosity, devotion to God, sublime and divine feelings and high moral ideals described in Valmiki Ramayana are rare elsewhere.
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