Schoolkids paint on Mother Nature in Tokyo contest

Bhubaneswar: Around 58 school-going children took part in a nature-themed painting competition organised by Shree Jagannath Society Japan (SJSJ) at Little India, Nishikasai, in Tokyo on Saturday, a day after World Environment Day on June 5.

The paintings will be published in SJSJ’s annual souvenir, ‘Shree Jagannath Yatra’, to be unveiled at the Rath Yatras in the Indian embassy, Tokyo, Central Japan Kasugai City and Shree Ram Mandir, later this year. The organisers based the topic on this year’s World Environment Day theme of ‘Inspired by Nature, For Climate. For Our Future’.

“Through this effort, we brought together Lord Jagannath, who is worshipped in the sacred wooden form and is closely connected with nature, Japanese tradition of revering nature and the world community for World Environment Day,” said Gyanindra Mishra, a member of SJSJ. “The competition is meant to inspire children and families towards creativity, environmental awareness, cultural harmony and togetherness,” he added.

The 58 participants were from Global Indian International School, Global Wisdom International School and Tokyo International Public School, besides many Indian and Japanese children.

Thirteen-year-old Muskan Dhandia, a Grade 9 student, painted Mother Earth holding the earth to portray how nature takes care of us. Similarly, Akshita Mishra portrayed all elements of nature. Two members from the Brahmakumaris, Hitomi Asaoka and Evelyn Sasamoto, spoke about the relationship between nature and human beings. Mishra spoke about Lord Jagannath.