AA national integration event called “Mera Desh Meri Pehchaan” took place at Govt Degree College in Kupwara, organized by Pune-based Lakshya Foundation and Vajr Division. The unique programme was designed at giving the children & youth of Kashmir an exposure to the diverse and rich culture of the country while also providing them a platform to showcase their talent.
The event commenced in Apr 2022 with various online & offline activities.
This included 15 youth who were able to take a German Language Course at Goethe Institute Max Mueller Bhavan in Delhi. They learned basic skills and then four of them displayed their proficiency during the Grand Finale.
26 women from different parts Kupwara participated at a Khana Khajana Competition in which they learned how to prepare cuisines of different states. Six of them were crowned winners.
36 students from 12 part-12 teams took part in a Quiz competition. Eight students were selected for the Grand Finale after a series of elimination rounds.
The final two days of the event were conducted in Government Degree College, Kupwara on 24 & 25 May.
The ceremony opened with the opening of Vajr Division’s Deputy GOC on the 24th. For the unique National Integration based Exhibition, 40 children from 40 schools across Kupwara (including Tangdhar and Machhal) were divided into batches. They were introduced into 6 states through Theme Based States Enclosures. Here they learned about culture and art, personalities, cuisines as well as festivals. They were introduced to each state one after another. They were exposed to the true spirit and diversity of India through the enclosures. A group of volunteers coordinated the batches.
The children had great fun participating in Team Building activities. The batches were then led to the auditorium to attend a motivational & patriotic audio visual presentation cum speech by Mrs Anuradha Prabhu Desai, Founder President, Lakshya Foundation. The children were delighted to have the whole flavor of National Integration brought to them, possibly for the first times in their lives. AThis event was attended by 2000 children.
GOC, Vajr Division and civil dignitaries graced the finale. Mrs Anuradha welcomed the guests and felicitated all the winners/finalists. Wayne, a student of AGS, presented a dance performance that was based on the music from different states. The German language course participants displayed their talents. In his address, The GOC thanked Lakshya Foundation’s energy and efforts to reach the border to instill the spirit and Nationalism in the youth and kids of Kupwara. Lakshya Foundation gave the GOC a vote of appreciation and felicitated the team.