Diwali, the festival of lights which marks the celebration of togetherness, love, and sharing was celebrated with passion and zeal by one and all at GIIS Smart Campus, Hadapsar.

Diwali which is also known as 'Deepavali' symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama returned home to Ayodhya on this day after killing the demon king Ravana. Upon the arrival of their king, the residents of Ayodhya lit the streets and houses with oil lamps to celebrate the occasion. A festive atmosphere can be seen during Diwali in every Indian household.

A line-up of activities and participation of parents ensured that the festivities were high on creativity and enthusiasm across all the sections of the school.

Dressed up in traditional attire, the little munchkins of the Pre-Primary department made rangoli with flowers and leaves. They also made attractive paper lamps to beautify their homes.

To add flavour to the celebration, there was a ‘Cooking without Fire’ event wherein parents and the little munchkins presented healthy and nutritious dishes in their creative ways.

The motive behind this was to inculcate good morals and to become responsible citizens to celebrate in an environment-friendly way.

Meanwhile, the students of the Primary section added to the celebration with active participation in all competitions and activities.

The Grade 1 students prepared mouth-watering chocolate laddus and decorated it so well that it was a treat not only for the tongue but to the eyes as well.

The students of Grade 2 drew advertisements that sent a message to save our environment and say 'No' to crackers. The concept of, 'Say No to Crackers' was also explained with its disadvantages. Children were told to celebrate Diwali in an environment-friendly manner.

Meanwhile, the thoughtful students of Grade 3 made laddus with a twist. Their pink laddus attracted everyone. They also made beautiful lanterns to decorate their houses.

Adding to the creativity were students of Grade 4 who made diyas with papercraft. Children decorated their diyas with colourful glitter and sequins.

The students of Grade 5 had a rangoli-making competition where they along with their parents displayed beautifully created rangoli’s from their homes which added beauty and grandeur to the celebration.

Children shared their thoughts and views about Diwali and how they wished to celebrate it with their dear ones. It was very nice to see the students relish homemade sweets with love and appreciation.

Throwing light on celebrations of students of Grade VI-IX, the pupils learned the importance of their surroundings, environment, and nature.

The pupils of Grade 6 showcased their creativity by making Geometrical Rangolis with their parents. The creativity of the students knew no bounds when they designed their imaginations with various colours.  It was a marvellous sight to witness the parents and students engrossed in producing pieces of art.

The DIY Chandelier of Grade 7 was based on the value of ‘Best Out Of Waste’ wherein students innovatively displayed creativity. The students were asked to make a Diwali chandelier with the help of old plastic bottles, laces, beads, sparkle, wool, thin rope, flowers, glue, etc. Some of the creative enthusiasts went to the extent of using different used items other than bottles, like making semicircle shapes with the help of balloons, glue, and pieces of newspaper while the others coloured the bottles and paper cups and decorated them so well with sparkle, that they were illuminating with delight.

The students of Grade 8 made beautiful lanterns with the message of low wastage. It was a remarkable moment to see the students of Grade 7 and 8 utilize the used and extra items so innovatively.

Simultaneously, they also learned the lesson of valuing their possessions and not wasting them. Meanwhile, the ninth graders created environment awareness posters of eco-friendly Diwali. The students depicted many ways of preserving nature through their artworks.

Virtual as it may be, the sparkles of festivity lit all the homes of the children promising all the joy of Diwali and hope for a bright and prosperous future.