After one month of volunteering in the remote village of Shri Timli in the Himalayan foothills, we came, all too soon, to our last day there. It was a day of festivity, of music and dance and merriment and colorful decorations and clothing. But it wasn’t all for us; the occasion also happened to be Republic Day, a major holiday in India.

Republic Day commemorates the day in 1950 when India’s constitution went into effect. The nation declared its independence from Britain on August 15, 1947 — and naturally, August 15 is now feted as Independence Day. And we’d already been on hand in an Indian community when that event was celebrated. But declaring your independence is one thing, and actually having an independent government is another. And Indians continued to live under British rule until that parchment was drawn up in 1949, and then actualized in 1950. Since then they’ve marched to their own drum and sung their own national anthem.

In New Delhi, the occasion is observed in grand fashion with a parade, speeches, and an aerial display by the Indian Air Force. Here in these quiet foothills, the celebration is a bit more subdued; but it certainly doesn’t pass without notice. The school where we’ve been teaching, in the nearby village of Devikhet, staged a modest ceremony, which we attended, and which we helped the students prepare for. And it just happened to be on our final day to stay here.

Along with the other volunteers at Shri Timli trust, we hike up the hill to the school at about 9:00, though things don’t get underway until 10:00. That gives us a little time to get in some last minute rehearsing with the kiddos, before their parents arrive. Unfortunately, there aren’t a great many parents who arrive. The event turns out to be rather sparsely attended. Which is a shame, because the students have put together quite a show.

First there is a little flag-raising ceremony, with a flagpole that has been erected right in the center of our stage. This is something that we are unprepared for, and it throws a bit of a wrench into our choreography for the song and dance numbers Kimberly has coordinated with the kids. But we make a few last-minute adjustments, and prepare to wing it. Kimberly is flattered when they ask her to stand in one of the places of honor alongside the local teachers for the flag ceremony.

The students perform dances to several songs in their native language(s) Two of them, a boy and a girl, are especially outgoing in their efforts, and take centerstage in more than one number.

Then the group performs the numbers that Kimberly has directed: “Hello There” and “The Wheels On the Bus”. Naturally, she has incorporated movement rather than just have them stand and sing like scarecrows. For “Wheels” she even has them move around the stage as a bus would making its rounds; this is one segment that is problematic because of the flagpole, but not as much as we’d feared. She stands in the back directing them; and she in turn is watching Dennis concealed on the side; because with everything being so last minute, she has been getting confused about the order of the verses, he’s there to prompt her with sign language and gestures. Teamwork, baby.

And for the grand finale, we proudly present… us. All of us. For the past few days, we’ve been teaching the other volunteers our line dance choreography to the American folk song “Cotton Eyed Joe”. And now we all get up and present a hoedown for the delighted locals. In fact, several members of the audience get up and join us onstage, picking up the steps quite serviceably.

“Cotton Eyed Joe” has become a bit of a theme song with us. We keep teaching it to kids, and sometimes adults, in the places we travel, giving them a lasting taste of Americana. Our audience participation performance provides a rousing sendoff as we wrap up our time at Shri Timli, then go back to our quarters to pack up for the next adventure on our itinerary.

Events occurred: 1/26/2025