Flag Raising Ceremony Students’ Sharing 2025-10-23

Zara and Serene, students from Form 3 Juniper and Form 3 Bombax, respectively, introduced a cultural festival in India - Diwali to all schoolmates. They gave some background information on Diwali and highlighted its cultural significance.

Written by Zara ATEEQ (Form 3) and Serene INAGALUR (Form 3)

Zara: Good morning, Principal, Assistant Principals, teachers, and our fellow students. I’m Zara from Form 3 Juniper.

Serene: I am Serene from F.3 Bombax. Today, we would like to share with everyone a cultural festival that is celebrated mostly in India and also internationally. This festival is Diwali.

Zara: The origin of Diwali comes from the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. It tells the story of Lord Rama, a prince who was exiled to the forest due to a palace intrigue. During his exile, his wife, Sita, was kidnapped by the demon king, Ravana. Rama rescued Sita with the help of an army of monkeys and defeated Ravana. Upon his return, Rama’s victory was celebrated by people decorating their houses with lamps. The word Diwali originates from the Sanskrit word Dīpāvali, which means "a row of lights".There are several origin stories, but the story of Lord Rama is more commonly used throughout India.

Serene: This year, Diwali was on the 20th of October. There are several rituals that are performed over the course of 5 days. On the first day of the festival, people clean their houses and buy new items such as gold and silver, as Hindus think these items bring good fortune and purity. On the third day, it is the main celebration-centric day of Diwali, where families do Lakshmi Puja, which is a ritual conducted before the evening to praise Lakshmi, who is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Afterwards, families gather, celebrating with a feast and lighting sparklers to play with.

Zara: On the final day of Diwali, people celebrate the unique and special bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters do prayers for their brothers, wishing them long lives, while brothers give gifts to sisters.

Serene: During these 5 days of celebration, Hindus wear fancy Indian traditional clothes. Women wear lehengas and saris, while men wear kurtas. All of these items normally have very detailed embroidery and are made out of cotton fabric or silk.

Zara: Women wear colourful bangles with various patterns on them, and they also wear long jhumkas, which are fancy indian earrings. Women and men wear something called a bindi, which is worn during Hindu festivals as it is seen as a “third eye”, which in the religion enhances spiritual aura and intuition.

Serene: In conclusion, Diwali is celebrated worldwide and in India. This festival overall embodies rich cultural traditions and ancient religious stories. This festival tightens the bond of families and promotes a sense of hope and renewal throughout several communities globally, making it a momentous occasion for millions.

Zara: On this occasion, we wish you joy and prosperity. May there be light in your lives, as always!