Let the light of God touch us – the Diwali Prayer service

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

28^th Oct 2013

The conclusion of the first session of the scholastic year marks not only the beginning of a well-deserved mid-year break but also allows time of preparation for the festive Deepavali season.  The secondary section of the school today ushered in this beautiful festival of lights through a quiet and meaningful prayer service.

The mood in the hall was just right – sober stage-lighting and a calm prayerful ambience.  The guests – Fr. Godfrey D’Sa (Rector), Fr. Bernard Fernandes (Principal) and Ms. Nicole Britto (Vice-Principal) lit the samay (lamp) as a devotional bhajan played in the background.  The readings from the holy books – the Bible, the Koran and the Bhagavad gita were read and this was interspersed with some rich commentary and insights by the leader, Ms. Joanna Fernandes. 

Fr. Godfrey D’Sa, in his address to the assembly, touched on the salient aspects of the Diwali festival – the return of Rama from exile, the victory of Krishna, and Laxmi pujan – all of which signify the triumph of good over evil.  He exhorted the gathering to allow the light of God to touch and transform them this Diwali season. 

A beautiful dance – that was also performed earlier on at the inter-school dance competition ‘Festival of Love’ – by our students showed that love is still the answer for peace and harmony in the world.  A heartfelt rendition of the profound hymn ‘Make me a channel of your peace’ by the entire assembly summarized the mood at the prayer-service.  The environment and its care and protection are something that will always be close to our heart.  Master Vismit Chavan shared a few green initiatives that could be practiced by each of us this Diwali season, making it thus an even meaningful and a bright shining festival.

A remarkable prayer service to mark the festival of Diwali, and a commendable team effort by Ms. Joanna Fernandes, Ms. Cressieda Murzello and students to get it organized! Thanks.

Happy Diwali!