As well as being a center of excellence in academics and research, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeethamalso places an emphasis on “education for life” – a concept introduced by the institution’s Chancellor, Amma. First year students from all disciplines at Amrita take a value or cultural education class in order to learn about how to live an enriched life that is beneficial to society.

As a part of their cultural education class, the first year students of Amrita School of Biotechnology coordinated Sanskar, a charity fundraiser benefitting the children at the Paripalli orphanage located near the school. Sanskar included hand-made crafts and mehendi stalls, a game zone, and a two-part onstage production: Gananjali and Nritanjali. Gananjali, a musical program, exhibited the talents of the ASBT students. Nritanjali, the finale of Sanskar, was a collage of both North and South Indian dance forms. This kathak and bharatanatyam infused performance told many well-known tales of Krishna. Highlights included Krishna portrayed as the beloved of the Gopis, Kaliyamardhana – the destroyer of the serpent king, Kaliya, and the great charioteer during the Battle of Kurukshetra.

Following Sanskar, the students had the opportunity to visit the Paripalli orphanage to offer the proceeds from the fundraiser and spend the day with children.