4th Annual NH Yoga for Peace in Action

Join participants of the 4th Annual NH Yoga for Peace event and partners Shishu Bharati and Desi Knowledge for this wonderful youth PEACE POSTER PARADE & CONTEST! Click here for more info on partner organizations and prizes.

WHY HAVE A PEACE POSTER PARADE?
Our TV's, computers and newspapers are filled with pictures, videos, symbols, etc. Images are powerful ways we gather information, sometimes without even realizing it. We base thoughts and actions upon these images stored in the brain. Yoga helps raise awareness and manage this sensory input.

The purpose of the children's Peace Parade is to generate images of peace! What does it look like? That will perhaps take some thought, discussion and creative action. In creating these images, we will all contribute to addition of healthy happy images in our minds, hearts and communities!

During Opening Ceremonies officiated by Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, the children will form a parade, carrying their posters they made at home into the gym during the opening ceremonies at 8:00 a.m. We will all recite a peace pledge together. Afterwards, while the posters are being judged, families enjoy a Subtle Yoga class taught by Jay Gupta. Then, each child will receive an acknowledgment for their participation and snack. Judges will award prizes (see categories below) at 11:00 a.m.

All families are then invited to stay for more of the day sampling over 33 of NH, MA and RI's best yoga and meditation teachers, including three kids yoga classes! You can enjoy the mela (festival) atmosphere: great food, music, dance performances, wellness marketplace, holistic healing arts and intuitive guides.

FOR PEACE POSTER PARADE REGISTRATION, CLICK HERE!

TO STAY AND ENJOY THE REST OF DAY TOO, REGISTER FOR THE YOGA CAMP HERE! Yoga for Peace Conference registration helps ensure we will have plenty of classroom space and great food! Two of the classes are already filled to capacity, so don't delay!

Peace Poster Contest Rules.

Guiding theme for the Posters
Posters and artwork should reflect "Images of Peace: what does peace look like?" Images are ways we gather information. Our TV's and newspapers are filled with them. Through this contest, we want to generate images of peace. By discussing and creating these images, we will all contribute to adding healthy happy images in our minds, hearts and communities!

Student can derive inspiration from a host of sources (famous quotes, lives of people who practice peace, things that make them feel peaceful, nature, animals, etc.) and are encouraged to talk with family, teachers, friends to help develop their thoughts on the theme...however, all work on the poster must must be the final creative idea and artistic work of the students.

Registration
Each student entering a poster must register so they receive a contest number and parent/guardian permission. This contest number should be placed with a sticky note (removable and will not damage poster) in the lower right hand corner of the poster. Student and parent/guardian name, email and phone should be written on back of poster.

Poster Material & Specifications
Posters can be any color or size. They can be of a drawing, collage, decorated quote, etc. using a host of art materials (paint, crayon, marker, fabric, foam cutouts, stickers, etc.) as long as it is completely dry and also stays adhered to the poster, i.e., no glitter, no wet paint, etc.

Age groups
We will have three age groups: up to 6 years old, 7-12 years old, 12-18 years old. Children will line up by age group for the parade. Please arrive by 7:30 a.m. on 10/1/11 to sign in and help your child(ren) get into line.

Fancy Dress/Costumes
Students are invited to dress as their favorite role model of peace, i.e., Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Dalai Lama, etc.

Prizes
Every young person who registers will receive an appreciation for their participation. Prizes will also be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each of the age categories. Plus, there will be prizes for the costumes as well. Judging will take place during the day using a numeric system so that no one knows the name of the artist.

Winners will be announced at 11:00 a.m. in the gym at the event. Winners must be present to receive their prizes. All decisions of the judges will be final. Students will be able to take their posters home at the end of the day. Any posters left at the event at end of day will be donated to a local nonprofit or recycled.