Family Picnic (June 18, 2005; Saturday 9:00a.m.):  Vidyapith’s academic year ends with Vidyapith Family Picnic.  This year, Mother Nature was very graceful and offered a perfect day for the picnic; not too hot and not too cold, a gentle breeze lifting everyone’s heart and spirit.  In the early morning, a few teachers and helpers put up signs to guide the families to the park in West Orange.  Before 9:00 a.m. a few families arrived and set up big jars for cold drinks and brought watermelons, soccer balls, volley balls, badminton rackets and birdies, and spread plastics for all to sit.  At 9:00 a.m., the festivities began with prayer.  It was wonderful to sit in one corner of the sprawling grounds carpeted by lush green grass and surrounded by tall trees. Above was a clear blue sky with a few harmless white clouds.  After prayer, Mahendra Uncle told all the basic rules to follow in order to make the day’s event proceed smoothly. 

            Soon the students in different groups spread out to play various games. Little children started playing with balls, while some others jump-roped. Some began a game of badminton, some started playing frisbee, and some, soccer. A group of senior students made two teams and began playing Ultimate Frisbee.  Parents also joined in the fun. Some mothers started playing “khadi kho,” while most of the fathers and grandfathers opted for cricket. The atmosphere became filled with fun and laughter. Some parents sat under the trees in lawn chairs and enjoyed chatting and watching the fun that went on around them. After a while, a few teachers gathered younger students and held competitions. Grandparents also joined in various competitions. The most fun was in watching the drooling crimson red mouths of students and teachers who were trying to win the “watermelon eating contest.” 

            At 12:30 p.m. everyone was called for lunch. Although no one wanted to stop playing, they knew that lunch was something not to be missed. All the families opened their picnic lunches, served their own families and then served the rest of the families.  There were several varieties of food items from various parts of India using different spices, each with a unique flavor of its own. It was a great feeling to share food with others and remember that we were all one family – the Vidyapith family.  After lunch, some students played for a while and at 1:30 p.m. the picnic was concluded with prayer.