Chennai: Enthusiasm, cheer, and a colorful milieu prevailed around the Perungudi Lake on Sunday as people of various ages and across all walks come together to celebrate a daylong Lake Festival, themed ‘Preserve Nature, Secure Future.’
Hundreds of school students joined the celebrations and took part in the rangoli, essay, poetry and painting competitions, and brought out their creative best.
E.Saipriya, a student of the seventh grade, was awake since 4:30 am to take part in rangoli competition and art contest that followed it, said her mother.
Saipriya’s drawing showed the practice of rainwater harvesting; it showed rain and a house and the rainwater was being collected in an underground tank. Vocal and passionate about the theme of saving nature, Saipriya said she plays her part by conserving water. “When it rains, we collect water in vessels and drums and use it instead of letting it go waste,” she said.
Hundreds of school going students like her were enthusiastic about taking part in various competitions, so were the adults. The cemented path along the lake, commonly called Perungudi Eri was lined with colorful rangolis, replete with slogans pleading people to play their part in saving the Earth.
Some of the slogans read, ‘The Earth is melting, stop using plastics’, ‘Save water’, ‘Be clean, go green.’ The Lake Festival was organised by a bunch of like-minded people who formed the association Planet (Perungudi Lake Area and Neighborhood Environmental Transformation) to play their part and help with cleaning and restoring activities for the Perungudi Lake.
“Every Saturday, we clean one part of the huge lake that is spread over 57 acres. This festival is a way of celebrating the volunteers helping this cause, and also creating awareness among people through these competitions,” said Suresh Kuppuswamy, one of the founding members of Planet.
Though it was planned by the group to celebrate the festival on Janurary 26, falling on a secular day, like it was in celebrated 2016, it was not possible this year due to some uncertainty this year.
The associations involved the young and the old alike. From watering plants around the lake to taking part in campaigning for issues related to the lake and saving nature, children too have been on the forefront.
Students from at least seven schools took part in the various competitions and parents were as enthusiastic as the children. The various events gave them platforms to let them play with their imagination, and use it to benefit nature.
Actor Vivek gave away awards in the evening to winners of various competitions that were held throughout the day.
