Sydney marked a cultural milestone on 13 September when more than 200 young students from the VHP Sanskrit School staged the complete Valmiki Ramayana in Sanskrit. The anniversary celebrations, held at The Regency Function Centre in Auburn, brought together students, parents and community leaders for what organisers described as a historic first for the city.
Dr S. Janakiraman, Consul General of India in Sydney, addressed the gathering and praised the dedication shown by the children. He also presented awards to students who had been recognised by the New South Wales Department of Education for their excellence in community language studies. Among them was Gambheer Sastry, who received the Minister’s Award, along with Praharsha Rao and Laksh Pradeep who were highly commended. Mansa Chirag Bhatnagar received a commendation while Pranathi Basavanahalli Prashanth, Devika Midigesi and Rachit Raj each received merit awards.
The staging of the Ramayana was ambitious in scope, with each branch of the Sanskrit school taking responsibility for one of the six Kāṇḍas of the text. Students enacted the divine childhood of Rama in the Bāla Kāṇḍa, the exile story of Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, the challenges of forest life and the abduction of Sita in Araṇya Kāṇḍa, the friendship with Sugrīva in Kiṣhkindhā Kāṇḍa, Hanuman’s daring journey to Lanka in Sundara Kāṇḍa and the climactic battle of Yuddha Kāṇḍa. Authentic costumes, traditional props and careful preparation ensured the Sanskrit dialogues came alive on stage with both reverence and youthful energy.
The production was delivered entirely in Sanskrit by students all under the age of 15. Their performances reflected months of preparation, discipline and commitment. The large audience of parents and community members responded warmly, with many noting how remarkable it was to see children in Australia presenting the epic in the original language.
Akila Ramarathinam, Coordinator of the VHP Sanskrit School and National General Secretary of VHP Australia, said the moment was deeply moving. “It is truly heartening to see our younger generation preserving and carrying forward the profound legacy of our revered ancestors, even here in Australia. This milestone is a shining example of cultural continuity and devotion,” she said.
The VHP Sanskrit School is formally accredited by the NSW Department of Education as a Community Language School. It has six centres across Sydney, located in The Ponds, Carlingford, Homebush, Nuwarra, Toongabbie and Waitara. Students range from the age of four to 17, learning to speak, read and write in Sanskrit. Parents attending the anniversary were encouraged to enrol their children and be part of a growing community dedicated to cultural education.
The anniversary celebrations filled the venue, with rows of parents and well-wishers applauding the effort and discipline of the young performers. For many, the event marked an affirmation of cultural resilience in Australia, where an ancient tradition was kept alive by the voices of the youngest generation.
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