Ganesh puja to be low key in schools

BHUBANESWAR: Ganesh puja will be a low-key affair in government schools this year, in accordance with the directives of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The state government has asked schools not to collect puja 'chanda' from students as the RTE Act p prescribes free education for all. While the authorities of many schools in the city have decided to worship pictures of Ganesha instead of idols and not to have a feast in order to cut costs, the managing committees of some schools would organize the puja by donating the required money themselves.
"Though we have not got any written instructions from the government on this matter but we were verbally asked not to collect any 'chanda' from students as it is prohibited under the Right to Education (RTE) Act," said a teacher of a city school, requesting anonymity.
As Ganesh and Saraswati are regarded gods of wisdom and knowledge respectively, celebrating their pujas is an age-old tradition in Oriya-medium schools. "We don't get any funds for organizing these pujas, but students collect some money from amongst themselves and make arrangements. This year, because of the restriction on collecting 'chanda', we have decided to make Ganesh puja a low-key affair by worshipping a picture of the lord instead of an idol and offering some fruits as 'prasad' instead of organizing a feast for the students," said Soudamini Dhir, a teacher of a city school.
However, Bijaylaxmi Mishra, the headmistress of Government Primary School, Unit-II, said, "Students of Class VIII insisted on celebrating Ganesh puja as it is their last year in school. They put up the matter in the school cabinet and also took it up with the school managing committee, so we decided to organize the puja with voluntary contributions from parents and guardians. Schoolteachers had no role in this."
In some schools, teachers, after failing to convince students, made arrangements for Ganesh puja at some location other than the school premises. "The government cannot stop celebration of festivals in schools as it inculcates organizational skills among kids. It is an age-old tradition and if they are not allowed to celebrate these pujas, the day should be declared as a holiday like other festivals," said Ramanath Dash, a retired teacher.