2008 Elementary Lock-in
Every year, Chinmaya Saaket holds a special event called the lock-in exclusively for students. The purpose of the lock-in is to spend time with Swamiji and have fun with your friends. This year’s lock-in continued this tradition of wholesome fun at Saaket.
Before the games started, the kids ate pizza for dinner. Everyone was very hungry, and the pizza vanished in no time. After eating pizza the kids rushed upstairs to the main assembly hall. Swamiji explained the fun activities that were awaiting them that evening. Eight groups were formed that would rotate with each other from room to room to play a variety of exciting games. After this, everyone assembled in the temple for arathi before going to their assigned rooms. Each group participated in six activities each lasting ten minutes. Some of these fun activities included: roll the marble, playing with stones, and connect four. As I was taking pictures, I could see that everyone was really having fun by the smiles on their faces and their eager participation in the activity. After each activity, kids would all flow into one big crowd in the main assembly hall. Everyone pushed to the front of the crowd to reach for a cup of water and then they were off to the next activity – what a cheerful hustle and bustle!
When everyone finished all the rotations, they headed back to the main assembly hall for one final game of fun. Boys and girls competed against each other in a game, where Swamiji called out Ram, Raja, or Ravan in random order. There were certain actions that needed to be performed when each name was called out. If you were caught doing the wrong action, you were out! The game continued like this until there were four members remaining from each team. The members from each side then competed until one side got knocked out and the other team was declared the champion. At the end of this face-off, the boys won. All the boys celebrated by cheering and congratulating each other!
Time flies when you’re having fun! Indeed it was 9:30 PM, time for parents to pick up their children. Everyone left with sweet memories. As for me, this brought back memories of my days attending the elementary lock-in. I am grateful for this opportunity for taking pictures and I enjoyed every click of it and I hope you do too!!!
