With hearts swollen with enthusiasm, GroMo 2017 : Health, Harmony and Holiness began with a big bang on 24th October, Tuesday at the Don Bosco School Grounds, Lonavala. A buzzing assembly of 760 Scouts and Guides along with thier respective Scout Masters and Guide Captains were seen working hard thoughout the day as they geared up for the event that would kickstart early in the evening. The Salesian Fathers and Sisters of the Mumbai Provinces are to spearhead this gigantic event that will run its course for the next five days.
The Camp Chief is Mr Mark Periera, Assistant District Commissioner of Scouting – North Mumbai and Representative of the Maharashtra State Scout Council for the entire GroMo 2017. The other trainers who would share their expertise in the days to come were Mr Suresh Lohar, Leader Trainer for National Bharat Scouts Guides Association, Mr Bolar Maharudra, Asst Leader Trainer and District Commissioner of Scouting: East Mumbai, Mrs Angelina Bhakre, Leader Trainer and District Commissioner of Pune and State Level Incharge of Campsites, Mr Sudhir Raul, Asst Leader Trainer of Scouting: North Mumbai and Mr Zahid Qureshi, HWB in Scouting, Training Commissioner of West Mumbai and India’s First and Youngest Certified Bungee Jumping Trainer certd. in Canada.
The scout masters along with their troops marched their way into the scenic venue of Loanvala taking part in the GroMo 2017 in the wee hours of the morning and the remainder of the morning. From 23 Salesian schools, 23 Scout Troops and 16 Guide Troops made their way into the campsite. With the graces of a favourable climate and nature’s bounty, tents were pitched on the ground and furnished with bamboo work. The troops registered themselves, recieved the camp kit – the GroMo Scarf and Woggle and acclimated themselves to the campus. The whole camp site was divided into three sub camps for the scouts and guides respectively. In great reverence to the workers in the vineyard of Lonavala, the sub camps were named in the honour of the Salesian Fathers and Sisters who laboured on the soil. They were Frs Bianchi, Alessi and Casarotti and Srs Camila, Mary and Valentina.
The chief guest for the evening inauguration was Mrs. Smita Patil, the Principal of the Police Academy, Khandala.The Guest of Honour for the same was Fr Godfrey D’souza, the Provincial of the Salesian Province of Mumbai. The other dignatries for the evening were Mr Abhishek Patil, Mr Divesh Chauhan and Mrs Unita Doulton, illustrious past pupils of Don Bosco, Lonavala; Fr Savio Silveira, the Vice Provincial of the Salesian Province of Mumbai. Once the Troops assembled in their allocated positions for a solemn welcome, the Inauguration began following which the March Past ensued. Mrs Smita Patil inspected the same and applauded the whole programme. After the traditional Prayer Song, the unfurling of the Scout Flag and its anthem, the esteemed guests for the occasion were felicitated. Mrs S. Patil in her candid address exhorted the virtues of discipline, honesty and punctuality. In heart warming affection, she even embraced a very young and timid scout from Shelter Wadala. The scout leader for the inauguration Master Parth Pujari, a scout from Don Bosco Borivali said, “it was a moment of excitement, and the honesty of the Chief Guest amazed me,” he added later cheekily, “I’m happy to be away from home!” Fr Provincial too added that an event of this magnitude is a beautiful learning for all in brotherhood and sisterhood.
What followed a sumptous tea, was an elegant performance of flags in the Color Party event and the lowering of the flag for the day. The vibrant indulgence of energy and zeal by the Scouts and Guides was commendable and kept the spirit of Lord Baden Powell, the Founder of the World Scouting Movement alive. With the protective hand of Don Bosco upon all his sons and daughters at the GroMo, one could vouch that they were showers of blessings in Lonavala today.