Newsletter October 2026
Dear friends of our Shanti Ananda School!
In this newsletter, I offer a brief glimpse into the diverse activities taking place alongside the everyday life of our school. May these colorful impressions delight your heart!
Yours, Helga Shanti Fründt
Textbook distribution
Textbooks are distributed at the start of every new school year to equip students with the necessary materials; this event makes a particularly strong impression on our new arrivals, though the other children are also delighted to receive the books. In this rural area, books still hold a special significance. Education in general is by no means taken for granted; rather, it is deeply valued by the children. This time, the distribution took place on June 29 — two weeks after the start of the school year.
Enthusiasm about the new books
Stacks of books for distribution
Yoga
Yoga continues to play a major role here—thanks above all to our dedicated teacher, B. Prabhavathi. As in previous school years, our yoga champions took part in competitions. On June 29, they traveled to Hindupur for a district-level yoga competition, and on July 16, they went to Kadiri for a competition attended by the Yogasana Federation of India. Numerous certificates were awarded for various disciplines (back-lying position, trunk rotation, trunk flexion), and the winners were honored in front of the entire student body. Newspapers also reported on the event.
M.Ruchitha, B.Thanusri, R.Yaswanth,.K.Dheeraj Gowd, P.Manvith, R.Premchand, P.Suprith Sai, M.Poojasri (from left to right, see numbers, the others are Yoga players from Satya Sai District)
On August 24 our school children went to Tirupathi for a State level Yoga competition. Our girls reached the 5th place and our boys the 6th place, each groupwise.
Asanas in the group
Our Arbor Day
Teacher Anasuya with Kindergarten children
July 21st marked the third Tree Hugging Day. We launched this event in 2024 to celebrate our connection with nature—and with trees in particular—in honor of the birthday of our main donor, Herbert Fründt (see the 2024 newsletter). All the children participate; games are organized, and many visitors enjoy coming along to find inspiration and share in the day’s festivities with the children.
Headmaster Raja Sekhar hugs a tree in Podarallipalli (5 km away). This huge tree is very special, as there are unfortunately very few old trees in this area.
School Uniforms
The new LKG (lower kindergarten) cohort is receiving school uniforms.
The school uniforms were distributed on August 3rd; new ones are normally issued every two years. New arrivals receive theirs outside of this regular schedule. Since 2006, the uniforms have featured green and pink, colors that symbolize nature and the quality of the heart. Boys receive trousers and a shirt, while girls receive a pinafore dress and a blouse. Each child receives two sets to wear alternately. Saturday is "colored day," when every child wears their own personal clothing. School uniforms are common throughout India.
Kindergarten children in their new uniforms
Independence Day
Independence Day on August 15th is celebrated with great enthusiasm in India—and naturally at this school as well—as it is one of the country's two national holidays, alongside Republic Day on January 26th. The occasion features not only games and a subsequent prize-giving ceremony but also a march (or "rally") by the children through the town of Mudigubba. Patriotism is highly valued here, and parents and guests gladly take part in the festivities.
Rally in Mudigubba
Mini-project week
Our toilet building with paintings
The first mini-project week of the school year, focusing on the theme of "toilets," took place from August 21 to 23. We provide instruction that engages the head, heart, and hands, fostering practical life skills in our students. As part of this, they were taught, among other things, how to thoroughly clean the toilets. During these mini-project weeks—held twice a year—a wide variety of topics are explored through hands-on activities; the children love this type of practical learning.
Boys cleaning the restroom
Raksha Bandan
Raksha Bandhan—celebrated on August 28th—is a popular Hindu festival during which girls craft friendship bands and tie them onto their brothers’ wrists; in return, the boys promise to support and protect them. This year, the celebration was held jointly with the Mandal Education Officer, who frequently honors us with his presence and participation. A tree was colorfully decorated, and the female students tied the bands they had made onto their fellow students. The imaginatively decorated tree in the background still serves as a reminder of that memorable ceremony…
The girls put the friendship bracelets on the boys.
Rain Ceremony
So far, the monsoon in Mudigubba has brought almost no rain this year. The lake has dried up, leaving only a few small pools; the ground is hard, and the crops are withering... We therefore decided to hold a rain ritual—something we hadn't done in a long time—to ask the cosmic intelligence for rain. The event took place on September 1st: following a *puja*, there were circle dances and songs involving everyone from the school community, accompanied by our new Indian fundraiser and good musician, Vishal, on the guitar. It did actually rain a little for a few hours—though only in Puttaparthi, 40 km away...
Rain ritual within the school community
Krishna-Celebration
Dance performance in the Amphitheater
On September 4th, we celebrated Krishna Day—an event very popular in this region—for the first time; parents were invited to foster their involvement in school life and give them the opportunity to watch their children perform. Krishna is a well-known and popular deity who is believed to have actually lived and is regarded as an incarnation of the Supreme. The children—mostly dressed in beautiful, colorful costumes as Krishna or Radha (his principal consort)—performed dances in the amphitheater. Afterward, everyone had the chance to test their skill at hitting a moving pot with a stick. Despite the sweltering heat (37°C), the celebration was a resounding success.
Skill game on Krishna Day
Teacher’s Day
On September 5th, our teachers were honored by the students on the occasion of Teacher’s Day. This day was established to honor Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan—India’s second president and a renowned scholar and philosopher—and serves to pay tribute to educators. Our teachers were showered with flowers and presented with small gifts by their classes; the children expressed their gratitude for the care and dedication shown to them. I believe a similar day should be celebrated beyond India as well, as it is a significant expression of appreciation for teachers and educators…
Giribabu is honored by his class.
Two small Temples
Ganesha- und Saraswathi-Temple (left) and Shiva-Tempel
For the past few months, we have had two small temples on the grounds—one dedicated to Ganesha and Saraswathi, the other to Shiva; they were funded entirely by donations from the village of Mudigubba. Ganesha symbolizes a good beginning and success, while Saraswathi is the goddess of education and the arts. Shiva is the god of destruction and renewal and is very popular at our school; two Shiva Mala Poojas have already taken place over the last two years. Currently, the small temples are being decorated with mosaics. A grand consecration ceremony will be held in January, during which the statues—which are already on site—will be installed.
Warmest greetings from India,
Yours, Helga Shanti Fründt
Contact
Shanti Ananda School Website
Shanti Ananda School on Facebook
Donation Accounts
FCRA account
Shanti Ananda Education Society
State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch
40043801956
IFSC: SBIN0000691
General Account
Shanti Ananda Education Society
Andhra Bank, Mudigubba Branch
Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India
185410100193769
IFSC: UBIN0818542
German Donation Account
Shanti Ananda Education Society
Anahata Stiftung, Munich, Bank für Sozialwirtschaft
BLZ: 700 205 00
IBAN: DE72700205003751241124
BIC: BFSWDE33MUE