Friendship Day Celebrations –
Theme “Embracing Diversity, Fostering Unity”

The theme of Friendship Day 2024 “Embracing Diversity, Fostering Unity” was announced to the students 10 days before the event. The students were asked to dressup in traditional clothes, put up performances like traditional dance, singing, speech etc. to showcase the rich and varied culture and traditions of India. They were also asked to prepare traditional food at home and bring it to college to share with students and teachers. They were guided to decorate the classroom and put up the theme of Friendship Day on the blackboard of the class. It was announced that this event would be a competition and the class making the best efforts in terms of students attendance, attire, performances, food and class decoration will be awarded with a trophy.

On 10th August, 2024 the students of F.Y.B.Com., S.Y.B.Com., and T.Y.B.Com. arrived early to decorate their classrooms and the class blackboard. Students trickled in dressed in beautiful, varied, vibrant Indian traditional clothes. It was heartening to see the effort taken by some students who wore complete bridal outfits. We saw a S.Y.B.Com. student dressed in full Rajasthani bridal clothes with accessories-et-al. There were boys dressed in veshti (white lungis) worn in the south of India. There were girls wearing sarees and nath (traditional nose pin) representing Maharashtra. Students wearing the Gujrathi attire, girls wearing ghagra choli and boys with kurta pajamas. Punjabi attire was also seen among the crowd of students while most boys wore sherwanis and kurta pajams.

At 7.00 pm the team of 3 judges Dr. Anaya Markandeya, Dr. Tushar Pawar and Dr. Harsh Shukla along with Principal Dr. Eknath Zhrekar and Cultural Committee Incharge Dr. Lata Krishnan visited all the classes to be a part of friendship day and witnes studnets efforts for making it a success.

The F.Y.B.Com. students’ turnout in classroom number 404 was reasonably good. The blackboard had “Unity in Diversity” written on it. They had lined up interesting performances consisstuting of a Gujrathi song, a speech on the significance of Friendship Day, Shero-Shayari and a fashion show, ramp walk of students dressed in traditional clothes. They served dhokla and chatni, Traditional Gujarathi snacks. A group photograph was taken and pictures of student performances were also taken. The judges gave their scores and then left for visiting the S.Y.B.Com. class.

The S.Y.B.Com. Class in classroom number 401 had the theme, Embracing Diversity, Fostering Unity” beautifully written on the blackboard. The students turnout was the maximum compared to those of other classes. Most of the girls had dressed up in traditional clothes and almost all boys were in kurta pajamas. They had many performances linedup. Three songs, one mimicry, on wrap, one dance and a fashion show, wramp walk, of their traditional costumes. The student dressed in traditional bridal outfil and accessories stole the show! The students had prepared, traditional Maharashtrian snacks. Kothimbir wadi, gulpoli, wadi and chutney. The energy and enthusiasm in the class was phenomenal. The students were happy and bonded well with friends and teachers. A group photograph was taken and pictures of students’ performances were also taken. The judges gave their scores after which the team moved to the T.Y.B.Com. Class in classroom number 301.

The T.Y.B.Com. class had “Friendship Day” written on the blackboard. There was a table in the middle of the classroom with a big cake on it. The students welcomed the teachers and invited Principal Eknath Zhrekar to cut the cake. All the students of the class presented a wramp walk, fashion show of their traditional costumes. One boy dressed in veshit (white lungi) and accessories from South India stole the show! A group photograph was taken and several photographs of their presentation and cake cutting ceremony were taken.

The judges submitted their score cards to Dr. Lata Krishnan. The scores revealed that the S.Y.B.Com. class had won the trophy for the best class participation on Friendship Day 2024. The trophy was awarded to the winning class on Monday 12th August 2024. Principal Dr. Eknath Zhrekar gave away the trophy. Special mention and appreciation was given to Dr. Anaya Markandey for dressing in traditional Maharashtrian attire and wearing accessories, the nath, the nose pin. Friendship Day was celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and the objective of Embracing Diversity, Fostering Unity by making bonds of friendship was successfully achieved.