ODYSSEY – Echoes of the Past, Vision of the Future- Annual Day Celebrations

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream; not only plan but also believe.” Anatole France

ODYSSEY – Annual Day Celebrations of Delhi School of Excellence, Banjara Hills was held on 4th November, 2023 at the historical venue of Taramati Baradari, Ibrahim Bagh, Hyderabad. The occasion was truly a melting pot of cultures, music and dance representing the far-flung lands of the10 civilizations of the world – the Greek, Roman, Chinese, Aztec, Inca, Maya, Persian, Mexican, Mesopotamian, Indus Valley, and Egyptian civilizations. They reflected the completion of the ten glorious years of DSE Banjara Hills since its inception in 2013. It was the culmination of meticulous planning and perfect execution. The cultures, history, music, dance and art spanning these civilizations were brought alive on a magnificently mounted stage that mesmerized everyone. The Annual Day celebration was woven around the theme ‘ODYSSEY – Echoes of the past, Vision of the future’. The cultural extravaganza captivated everyone after witnessing the bravura performances of the students of Pre-Primary to Grade 10. Mr S G K Kishore, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer, GMR Airports, GMR Group, Hyderabad graced the occasion as the Chief Guest for the Cultural Show. A warm welcome was accorded to the dignitaries Chairperson DSE Group of Institutions Ms Shilpa Ravi, Secretary Ms Rama Devi, Academic Director Ms Shashikala, Principal of DSE Banjara Hills Ms Veena Murthy, Principal DSE Attapur Mr Augustine, Principal DSE Manikonda Ms Hemalatha, Vice Principal, Headmistresses, Coordinators, parents, teachers and students. The program began with the lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries, followed by the gracefully performed Invocation dance invoking Lord Shiva that set the mood for the grand celebration of the evening. The powerful images on the LED in the background added magic to the dance. The beautiful dance by the tiny tots of Pre-Primary was absolutely adorable. The tastefully decorated stage with the symbols representing the diverse cultures of the civilizations set the stage for the lovely programs. All the dances representing the different civilizations such as the magnificent dance of the Persian civilization that was performed with perfectly synchronized movements, or the robust dance from the Chinese civilization that had the element of martial arts, the absolutely unique dance of the Inca civilization with soul stirring music, the stick dance from the Egyptian civilization were both hugely entertaining and informative about the different dance forms of the world. The school choir sang mellifluously different songs such as ‘Bella ciao ciao’ of the Mayan civilization, a French song that conveyed the message of peace, unity and harmony. The Live Art by students about the different civilizations was remarkable The Annual report by the Principal Ms Veena Murthy, Head Boy, Head Girl and the students of Primary segment apprised everyone about the scholastic and co-scholastic achievements and awards of students, classroom activities, competitions, educational trips, facilities, school social responsibility, teachers’ felicitations and awards, and so on. The Chief Guest appreciated the school for the theme and the meticulous planning in conducting the program. Principal Ms Veena Murthy thanked the parents for their cooperation for the program. The felicitation of the school toppers in AISSE 2023 was the much anticipated and appreciated part of the program. The magnificently performed grand finale brought the curtain down on the cultural extravaganza, with the surprise element of the unfolding of the scroll with the message ‘In pursuit of Excellence’ that made everyone proud. The compering by the students and teachers was flawless and kept the audience engrossed in all the performances and proceedings of the occasion. The celebration was truly unforgettable.