More than 120 children took part in the Children’s Painting Competition held in the Himalayan Roerich Estate, Naggar (International Roerich Memorial Trust) The competition was organized on May 3, 2015 within the framework of celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Roerich Pact and the 70th anniversary of Victory over fascism in the Great Patriotic War.

The students from the Helena Roerich Art Academy for Children (IRMT) as well as the schools of Naggar and Katrain aged 6-16 took part in the competition. In accordance with tradition, the programme opened with the prayer to Sarasvati, the divine patron of arts. After that the ICR and IRMT employee Alexander Pereverzev told the assembled children and adults in Hindi about the Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace and explained the meaning of Nicholas Roerich’s appeal “Peace through Culture,” which became the topic of the competition.

On that May day it was pleasant to see the children from the Kullu valley trying to comprehend the meaning of peace and culture and creatively express their awareness. The children painted the Banner of Peace. They depicted peaceful life amidst the hills, gardens in bloom and beautiful temples and, obviously, the traditional nati dance. They also depicted the people of different nations and creeds living in peace and harmony or sailing in the same boat under the Banner of Peace.

The grand prize distribution ceremony took place on May 10 in the Osborne Estate which houses the Sunday Helena Roerich Art Academy for Children. It was preceded by the presentation organized by the Russian staff of the IRMT on the activities of the Roerichs during the Great Patriotic War (at that time the Roerichs stayed here, in the Kullu valley). The presentation featured the slides of Nicholas Roerich’s paintings created before and during the war as well as memorial photographs.

The grand prize distribution ceremony was attended by the parents, teachers and members of the administration of the schools-participants of the competition. The winners received prizes, while all participants of the competition received certificates. Each certificate was decorated with the St. George ribbon to remind them of the Great Victory and the heroes who won it and bequeathed us the solemn duty of keeping peace on the planet.