The Sri Saraswati Sishu Mandir of Gandhinagar here celebrated its eighth annual function on Sunday in which district BJD president Subash Maharana was the chief guest and headmaster of Barracks High School Pratap Chandra Das was the chief speaker.
Assistant Block Education Officer of Rangailunda B Narayan Subudhi, BMC corporator Ranjit Pattnaik, district BJD women’s wing leader Mamata Bisoyi and retired teacher Prakash Satapathy were the guests of honour.
Addressing the students, Maharana said the parents, particularly mothers, play an important role in inculcating reading habits among children and mould their conduct and character to make them worthy citizens of the country. The mothers should spend at least two hours every evening with their children and motivate them in their studies irrespective of their educational backgrounds.
He also stressed the need of plantation of trees by children in their surrounding areas to make the environment people-friendly and pollution-free. He advised students to respect their parents as the latter are like gods for them.
The function began with lighting of the candle and chanting of Veda. BMC Mayor K Madhavi, who was scheduled to inaugurate the function, could not turn up. Among others, school headmistress Sandhyarani Devi, management committee members Sadananda Padhi and Jyotsnarani Patra and president Raghunath Patra were present. The students staged a cultural programme which thrilled the audience.