Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 2: St Aloysius Higher Primary School celebrated Kannada Rajyotsava and Diwali with vibrant cultural festivities in the school auditorium, showcasing Karnataka’s rich heritage and the joyous spirit of the Festival of Lights.
The celebration commenced with the soulful rendition of the Nada Geethe, Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujathe, filling the auditorium with pride and unity.
The chief guest, Sathvika Rai, assistant professor at Manel Srinivas Nayak Institute of Management, received a warm welcome amidst applause from the audience. Headmistress Jositta Noronha, assistant headmaster Liya D’Souza, and PTA vice president Iqbal were present on the occasion.
Sridevi, a student, eloquently spoke about the significance of Kannada Rajyotsava, celebrating the language and culture of Karnataka. The programme continued with students presenting a Kannada patriotic song and a spirited dance performance, beautifully capturing the pride and joy of the occasion. This was followed by a Diwali segment led by class 1 students, who spoke about the significance of the festival of lights and presented an endearing dance that lit up the stage with smiles and sparkle.
In her keynote address, Sathvika Rai praised the students for their creative performances and heartfelt participation. She emphasized that while learning new languages is important, one must never forget or neglect Kannada the pride of our land. She lauded the students for portraying the essence of both festivals through speech, song, and dance and encouraged them to strive for excellence in all their endeavours. Reflecting on Diwali, she remarked that darkness often symbolizes ignorance and misconceptions, urging everyone to become a light that guides and uplifts others.
Assistant headmaster Liya D’Souza, in his address, underscored the importance of nurturing love and respect for the Kannada language. He encouraged parents to converse in Kannada at home and appreciated the school’s initiative of providing free education, books and uniforms for Kannada-medium students, reaffirming its commitment to preserving the language. Drawing a parallel between the light of a Diya and acts of service, he inspired students to spread kindness and compassion, while reminding them to exercise caution while handling fireworks.
The programme concluded with the singing of the national anthem, followed by the distribution of sweets to all students bringing the celebration to a joyful and festive close.