An Onam fete with a difference

KOTTAYAM: It was a memorable Onam for the students and staff of St John of God Special School in Angadivayal in Pambady on Friday. Over 220 differently-abled students swayed to the Panchari melam staged by the students of Sree Mahadeva Kshetra Kalapeetam, Kangazha. Later on over 250 differently-abled children of the special school watched a Thiruvathira performance by the students of the B Ed College of the same management.There was also a magic show by Deepu Vazhoor. "We offered to conduct the Onam celebrations in the school which the management agreed," said Gopinathan Nair, who manages the Kalapeedom which is under Kangazha Devaswom.
There are students of various age groups in our institute, which teaches the art of playing chenda. On Friday, around 40 students and 10 teachers were part of the team which conducted the performance in the special school. "The children were happy and it was the first time such a event was staged in the school,"said Augustine Polaprayil, director of the Special School. Among the students, 166 are staying in the hostel while the rest are day scholars. Around 90pc of the students have gone home for Onam Vacation while the rest who are either orphans or whose parents are in far off places are staying back, he said.