We arrived at the Sri Ram Ashram Thursday afternoon and left Wednesday morning. The kids at the Ashram were very welcoming; they immediately want you to sit down next to them for meal time and ask you a bunch of questions relating to where you are from. A lot of the kids speak very good English, and the ones who don’t are still friendly and eager to communicate.
One of the games that they like to play is Ultimate Frisbee. The first time I played with Ashram kids was my first time ever playing and because of that, I didn’t play very well. I didn’t have the best positioning, I couldn’t throw the frisbee very well, and I had difficulty intercepting the frisbee while it was in the air. Nevertheless,I had fun playing, as well as seeing my peers and the Ashram kid’s athletic abilities.
My second time playing, I improved a lot. I understood all the rules. I could intercept the frisbee, but I still was not good at throwing. At the beginning of the game, Mordy and I were assigned as team captains. I did my best to recreate the team that I had in the first game because I knew them well and understood how they played in correspondence with each other. During this game, I collided with two separate teammates. One on offense and one on defense. As expected, my team obliterated Mordy’s team.
The last game that I played went super well. Both teams had good coordination and we had a blast. Post game I found out that they only play Ultimate Frisbee when Mount Madonna students come to visit. -Nash Wilson
Sri Ram Ashram: Om Bhavan
The Om Bhavan or guest house at Sri Ram Ashram is a three story building with a roof space for drying clothes and housing their solar panels. The main thing I noticed about the rooms was the emphasis on functional space, while still having a bit of flair. There were two beds to a room with plenty of floor and shelf space. The bathroom is just as big as it needs to be (which is not very big). The walls are sky blue with a more earthy stained wood trim for the doors and windows. The curtains have detailed but not cluttered floral patterns on them as do the mattress toppers. Inside the closet are two paintings, one of Hanuman and the other of Saraswati, two very important figures to the Ashram and Mount Madonna communities. The bathroom has a blue and white color scheme with the tiles on the floor being both colors with a sort of granite pattern. The tiles on the wall are a dark blue. Each room also has not one but two ceiling fans as it can get a little warm at times, especially after playing outside with the kids for a few hours. Many westerners would consider this living arrangement too simple. I’d like to challenge them to find something they absolutely have to do every day that this room would not accommodate.
I should also mention for those who don’t know, that the Sri Ram Ashram was started by the same people that started the Mount Madonna Center and Hanuman Temple in California. It seems to me that the ideals of Baba Hari Das as well as his students and friends are reflected in the design and setup of these rooms.
As for the interpersonal aspect of the Om Bhavan, this guest house is not a place where the Ashram kids are allowed to go besides the library on the bottom floor. It houses staff and of course any guests that have come to visit. Currently, we are here with a few others in their early 20’s and 30’s who are working as teachers at the school as well as waiting for job placements from their employers. Everyone here is very kind and has a lot of good insight on India and how the Ashram works. As a side note most of them are also fantastic dancers. -Mordecai Coleman
Once a month, Sri Ram Ashram hosts a collective birthday party for all the children born that month. This month, we had the pleasure of attending and celebrating with them.
In preparation for the party, we spent several days learning two dances from an older girl named Preeti and practicing them so we would be ready to perform.
On the day of the celebration, all the girls were fitted for sarees—a traditional garment worn by women, typically for special occasions. Many of my classmates had worn sarees before for our production of the Ramayana, but since this was my first time, I was incredibly excited.
One of the sweetest moments was witnessing the children’s—especially the girls’—reaction to us wearing their traditional clothing. Sarees are a beautifully intricate part of Indian culture, often reserved for significant celebrations, so wearing them felt incredibly special. It was a true honor to be embraced in this tradition for the party.
That evening, we celebrated three girls at the ashram who had birthdays that month. To honor them, we created signs and cards that were later presented during the ceremony.
At the start of the celebration, the birthday girls sat at a table onstage while they were introduced and given their cards. Each girl also received a cake of her choice. This part of the event was brief, as there were many more ways for the children to celebrate together. For example, after dinner and cake, the youngest girls performed a dance they had prepared. In fact, most of the girls at the ashram had put together dances for the occasion and were eager to share them.
Finally, it was our turn to perform. Every year, MMS students prepare a song to share with the ashram. This year, we chose “Rama O Rama” and “Lakshman Brother Lakshman,” both songs from our school’s version of the Ramayana. We were thrilled to offer this to them, as they had shared so many of their gifts with us.
After our song, it was time for our dance. Though we were nervous, we felt prepared after four days of practice. When we finished, the children called for an encore, so we performed again—this time inviting our chaperones to join us onstage.
Afterward, the children rushed the stage for photos, followed by an impromptu dance party. With every song, the children came alive, singing every word and performing synchronized dances with boundless energy. It was a beautiful reminder of how deeply dance, music, and joy are woven into life at the ashram.
The night was magical—filled with love, laughter, and shared traditions. The ashram girls dressed us in their traditional clothing and welcomed us with such warmth. It was an unforgettable experience, and I feel so grateful to have been part of it. -Emi Lord
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