(ANS – Silchar) – In an effort to combine the Bicentennial celebrations of Don Bosco with educationally valuable ventures, Don Bosco School Agartala organized a Tree Planting session forits students on 1st Sept 2014. While at St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Pathaliaghat, the celebrations hada colourful start with an impressive function held on Teachers’Day, 5th Sept, attended by over 1300 students, teachers and a host of dignitaries.

Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong, the guest of honour at the tree planting session in Agartala, spoke briefly on the bicentenary celebrations happening all across the Salesian world and also on the innovative activity they had taken up as part of these celebrations. While congratulating the school, its principal, Fr. Benny Mushahary and the students, the Archbishop urged the students to be actively involved in spreading environment awareness in the society.

Among the dignitaries there was also Fr. George Maliekal, Salesian Provincial of Silchar Province.

In Pathaliaghat, Dr. Parshant Kr. Goyal, IAS, District Magistrate oftheSipahijala district in Tripura, and chief guest of the day, hoisted the Don Bosco Bicentenary Flag and declared open the festive year.

The state official inaugurated the newly erected gate and entrance of the school and then placed agarland on the statue of Don Bosco, givinghomage to the saint. As Mr Goyal, flanked by Fr Vijumon, the Principal and Fr Lucas, the Vice Principal walked up the renovated pathway leading to the school, hundreds of students, dressed in cultural attire lined up on either side, giving the occasion a unique ethnic flavor and enhancing the beauty of the newly painted school and the spruced up surroundings.

Later, addressing the gathering Mr. Goyal said he found it especially appropriate that the inauguration of the Bicentenary year of Don Bosco`s birth is held on Teachers Day, because he was one of the `greatest teachers of the young people`. 

The day’s program included March Past by students and the staging of “Dream at Nine” - a dramatic rendition of the dream that young Johnny Bosco had at the age of nine, which inspired in him the passion for youth.

Posted on 09/12/2014