Chinmaya International Residential School (CIRS) came alive with Anand Utsav 2026, the school's annual celebration and CIRS Family Meet, held from 5 to 7 October 2026. Held each year, Anand Utsav brings students, parents and teachers together to celebrate the vibrant spirit and values of the CIRS community.

In the august presence of Swami Swaroopananda, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, the celebrations featured an inspiring showcase of music, dance, theatre and creativity, with students taking centre stage to present their talents.

A particularly moving highlight of the programme was the Matru-Pitru Puja, in which students expressed their gratitude, love and reverence towards their parents. The ceremony reflected the spirit of value-based education at CIRS, where learning goes beyond academics to nurture gratitude, respect and the right values.

Anand Utsav also saw the special release of three school publications: Chinmaya Sakshi, the newsletter for Anand Utsav, along with the Crossroads Magazine and the Chinmaya Awareness Magazine.

Adding to the occasion, a team guided by Brahmachari Sanatan Chaitanya created and launched a brand-new look of the CIRS website, www.cirschool.org. The team received special praise from the Resident Director, Swami Anukoolananda.

Swami Anukoolananda also felicitated the CIRS parents who contributed to the Chinmaya Amrit Yatra across India, through both financial and organisational support.

Swami Swaroopananda recognised and honoured students and teachers with the Chinmaya Gaurav Awards. The awards celebrated exemplary students, students who have shown great leadership, and students with major achievements in fields such as design, sports and writing.

Students of Grades 5 to 8 presented Vidya Vaibhav, an exhibition on the Gita Panchamrit. Grades 5 and 6 together presented the first verse, Grade 7 the next two verses, and Grade 8 the last two verses.

The academic departments also put up a range of thoughtful exhibitions:

Science: Home as a Laboratory
Social Studies: How Geography United Bharat
Mathematics: Indian Knowledge Systems and Mathematics
Music: Hour-long Musicals on Naam Sankirtan

The Art and Management departments brought an entrepreneurial energy to the event. Student-made art pieces, including table light covers, drew brisk sales, while the Management stalls sold food from outside vendors. Running the stalls gave Management students hands-on experience in handling accounts.

The CHYK (Chinmaya Yuva Kendra) Transformation Circle added to the excitement with its own line of merchandise, including diaries, pens, water bottles and quarter-zip T-shirts, which proved popular among the students.

The highlight of the celebrations was the evening cultural programme on the second day, titled Bharata Bhagya Vidhata. The production explored the nuances behind Rabindranath Tagore's composition of the national anthem, offering the audience a fresh and moving perspective on a song every Indian knows by heart.

With a perfect blend of fun, learning and cultural exploration, Anand Utsav 2026 fostered a spirit of togetherness. It gave students the chance to express themselves, connect with their peers and enjoy a vibrant, festive atmosphere, while parents witnessed first-hand the holistic education that defines CIRS.