The Rituals of Reunion: Starting a New Term in the Mist-Covered Hills

The silence of the long break is abruptly broken by a joyous, chaotic surge. As the mist settles over Darjeeling, it ushers in the most anticipated event of the academic calendar: the start of a new term. This isn't merely a return to classes; it's a reunion steeped in tradition and emotion.

The first ritual is the trunk call. Students line up, their metal trunks—bulky symbols of their temporary home—being hauled and stacked by porters. The loud clanking and scraping provide the rhythmic backdrop to the greetings.

Next is the Dormitory Homecoming. Friends who haven't seen each other in weeks rush to claim their old beds, an excited clamor of catching up filling the corridors. The air buzzes with recounted holiday adventures and nervous energy for the term ahead. Seniors offer reassurances to the newly arrived juniors, the perennial rite of passage.

The term officially begins with the Opening Assembly. The entire student body gathers, often shivering in their freshly pressed uniforms, as the Headmaster delivers a customary address—a mix of stern warnings about discipline and lofty expectations for academic success. The school anthem, sung with passionate vigor, formally marks the transition from holiday freedom to institutional structure.

The final, and perhaps most meaningful, ritual is the first evening study hour. After the buzz of the day, a profound quiet descends. Under the soft glow of desk lamps, the students settle into the familiar rhythm of shared silence, the only sounds being turning pages and the distant, soothing ring of a temple bell. The term has begun, and the family of the mist-covered hills is whole 

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