In Bengali, the word 'Arunoday' means sunrise. Arunoday, dedicated to the Rising Sun, Jesus, is the pre-novitiate of the Calcutta Province of the Society of Jesus. The house is situated at Malancha, on Taki Road, near Barasat, about 30 kms from Kolkata.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

A Picnic to Machranga Dweep

What is Easter without a picnic? That too when it is the feast day of the house! Arunoday community went on a picnic on Easter Monday. The destination was Bangladesh, well, a few inches (or miles) short of it! We took a train to Hasanabad and then took a boat to Machranga Dweet (literally translated to ‘Kingfisher Island’). Just across the Ichamati River, Bangladesh was so very close. Our friends from Bangladesh (five of them in the pre-novitiate this year) could look at their motherland (and really could swim across if they wanted).
The island is very beautiful with mangroves and water bodies all around. We had a good walk around with Fr Carvalho watching his steps while he negotiated narrow bamboo bridges. After a good lunch sitting on the river side, the pre-novices started their most loved activity, a game of cricket. But soon the ball was gone through the shrubs into the rising waters.
Returning was equally enjoyable. The boat ride was really superb. Picnic over, today the pre-novices begin a three day programme on Affective Maturity along with the Postulants of FMA and RNDM.

For a better view, click on the pictures.