 Namaskaram, and bengal greetings to one and all. Bengal is the quintessential four-day-long harvest festival of Tamil murder. In Tamil, the word bengal really means overflowing, which signifies abundance and prosperity. At sunrise, people perform the symbolic ritual of boiling fresh milk in oven or clay pots. And when the milk boils over and bubbles out of the vessel, people shout, bengal out bengal. Throughout the manada, people discard old items, clean and decorate their homes with banana and mango leaves, and embellish the floor with decorative coulombs or patterns drawn on the ground using rice flour to usher in the new year. In keeping with the spirit of rejuvenation and celebration of nature's bounty, we bring to you tonight's cultural program. We begin the program with a medley of Tamil folk songs presented by the students in the film sector with a joyful process. These songs capture the essence of our villages and our farmers and a deep understanding and sense of gratitude toward the earth we walk upon. Next performance by the students of Isha Homeschool is a street play conceptualized by theater artist Dr. Velu Sarvanand. This play is the outcome of an intense three-day workshop. What's interesting to note is that several of the students in the play have little to no knowledge of Tamil but still manage to pick up most of their dialogue. Street theater has traditionally been a medium for social awareness. This play, titled Kuppai or Garbage, tackles the problem of pollution. It follows a group of young boys from a poor fisherman community who see the threats of pollution on the roadside in which they play, in the waters in which they fish, and in the marketplace and urban areas in which they roam. Let's see if they can help us find solutions to this universal problem that faces us all. Next is Dr. Velu Sarvanand, a play by the students of Isha Homeschool. He is a play by the students of Isha Homeschool. He is a play by the students of Isha Homeschool. He has been called to the school for three days. He has been called to the school for three days. In this play, he has been called to the school for three days. He has been called to the school for three days. In the history of India, folk and tribal dances are an integral part of every occasion. They are an expression of joy and define the vitality of their vibrant community. They are meant to be performed by the common man and thus are comprised of simple steps and movements. The first folk dance that we are going to see is performed by the Isha Samskriti students. When plows have turned the soil, raindrops have mingled with the sun and soak the earth. And the farmers' toils have borne fruit. It is time to celebrate the most ancient bond, that of man and nature. Isha Samskriti presents a dance celebrating the harvest. Isha Samskriti presents a dance celebrating the harvest. Home school performers will play the role of both the dancer and the musician. Tapatam is also known as Parayatam, is one of the oldest folk dance forms in Tamil Nadu. A tough and challenging folk art form, Tapatam is performed by dancers who play their own hand held drum or tapu, presenting tapatam. It is a group dance performed by women of all ages, usually in celebration of a successful harvest. It is a group dance performed by women of all ages, usually in celebration of a successful harvest. Pinnel means plat, and golattam refers to a stick dance. Women form a large circle around a central pole on which dangles several colorful ropes. Each dancer holds one end of a colorful rope, and while playing with sticks, dances around the pole, weaving in and out of the circle forming intricate and beautiful patterns. When there is not enough rope to dance with, the women reverse the steps and unwind the ropes, presenting pinnel golattam. Thank you for joining us for this evening's cultural program. We welcome all of you to enjoy the prasadam that will be served on the left side of the daayas. Dinner will be served for the ashram volunteers at Bhiksha Hall. Once again, we wish you all a very happy pongal, and thank you for being with us on this festive occasion.