A Day of Marathi Learning and Cultural Exploration at Marathi Shala

 A Day of Marathi Learning and Cultural Exploration at Marathi Shala

Energetic Beginnings and Cultural Insights

Date: Jan 20^th 2024.

Today's Marathi Shala classes for both batches were a blend of enthusiastic learning, cultural insights, and new beginnings. Our Batch 1 class commenced at 10:08 AM with full attendance, welcoming several new and energetic faces.

Starting with Devotion and Warm-Up

The class began with the serene 'Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu' song, setting a tone of reverence and respect. Following this, we engaged in a lively warm-up activity, the photos of which capture the vibrant energy of our young scholars.

 

Interactive Learning with Swar and Vyanjane

We revisited all the Marathi Swar (अ [a], आ [aa], इ [i], ई [ii], उ [u], ऊ [oo], ए [e], ऐ [ai], ओ [o], औ [au], अं [am], अः [a:]) and Vyanjane (क [k], ख [kh], ग [g], घ [gh], च [ch], छ [chh]). During the recap, the teacher encouraged students to come up with new words starting or ending with these letters. The children surprised us with their creativity, significantly expanding their Marathi vocabulary. We also introduced new letters (ज [j], झ [jh]).

 A highlight of the class was a brief session by Amita Ji on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, enriching our students with historical and cultural knowledge.

Batch 2: Recap and New Discoveries

The Batch 2 class, starting at 11:10 AM, followed a similar structure. We recapped all Swar and Vyanjane, including ङ [ng], ञ [ny], ट [t], and ठ [th]. The interactive session involved asking students for 3-4 new words associated with these letters, leading to an array of new vocabulary. We added two more letters, ड [d] and ढ [dh], to their learning. Amita Ji also conducted a session on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya for Batch 2.

 Homework and Upcoming Celebrations

Both batches were assigned homework to research or read about the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and present 2-3 fun facts in the next class. This task aims to blend language learning with cultural knowledge.

Next week, we will be celebrating Republic Day. Students are encouraged to wear anything resembling the Indian flag's colors, though it's not compulsory. We have also started keeping attendance to track the regular participation of our scholars.

Acknowledgments and Gratitude

A special thank you to Jayashree Ji for writing 'Suvichar' and assisting in the class. We also extend our gratitude to Santosh Mahajan Ji for bringing Laddu for Batch 2 in celebration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, and we regret that Batch 1 missed this treat. Our heartfelt thanks to Sucheta Ji and Amita Ji for their engaging teaching methods in today's class. Lastly, we appreciate all the parents and volunteers for their invaluable support and assistance.

Today's Marathi Shala session was not just about language learning; it was a journey into our rich cultural heritage, making it a truly memorable experience for our young scholars.

Shala Volunteer: Enthusiast of Marathi Culture and Education