St. Pauls Cultural Youth Fest 2024… The Ultimate Crescendo of Entertainment..
30th October 2024
Every
year St.Paul’s School Mala Road- Kota transforms into a vibrant hub of
creativity and expression during its much-anticipated Cultural Youth Fest. This
year the event coincided beautifully with Diwali, “The festival of Lights”,
creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with creativity, joy, and togetherness.
Over three exhilarating & exciting days starting from the 24th
to 26 Oct’ 2024, students participated in a myriad of activities to showcase
their talents and to celebrate the rich tapestry of Indian culture and the
spirit of Diwali…
The fest kicked off with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by
Our Principal & Vice Principal, thereafter enfolding on the first day of festivity
with a series of competitive events which were judged by an elite panel of technically
sound maestros, each being proficient in their own field of expertise. The
students of the various houses were invited to exhibit demonstrate their
talents & skills under the
below mentioned categories which included :-
English Declamation -- “A powerful form of public speaking that
involves delivering a speech or passage passionately with the aim of expressing
persuasion, rhetorical flair and emotional resonance. The content of the declamation
piece specifically having been inspired by a renowned Indian figure or
celebrity”..
Hindi Group Singing – “The themes centred around tunes that inspired
and evoked feelings of optimism, resilience, and transformation while conveying
the message of hope and the potential for change in the future, while adhering
to the lyrics, composition, synchronisation and rhythm of the songs”..
Mime Skits – “A captivating form of storytelling that
transcends language barriers, relying on the universal language of movement and
expression to convey complex emotions and narratives creatively, making it a
unique and engaging theatrical experience for the audiences of all age groups with
acts based on Social reforms in India, reflecting the evolving needs of our
society”..
English Skits – “Themes were based on famous Hindi skits
crafted by Munshi Premchand, that delve deep into the social issues of his time
while imparting timeless morals reflecting the struggles of the common man,
emphasizing themes of justice, empathy and integrity”..
The second day festivity saw a lot more of enthusiasm,
fun & entertainment as the energy levels sored to their optimum while the
students took the stage to showcase their talents under the following
categories:-
Solo Dances
– Inspired by the theme, “Rhythms of the Soil” each song track required to be
influenced by any folk culture and traditions from within any state or
territory of India, with the judgement criteria following benchmarks set as per
authenticity of costumes, choreography, gracefulness and melodic appeal..
Group Dances
– Sending forth the message of universal love and brotherhood the theme “Rhythms
of the World – one journey one dance”, required the participants to perform a
medley representing various cultures from different parts of the globe which were
supposed to emphasize the ideology that, “Different of cultures are not
divisions of society but rather are unique threads woven into the fabric
called-Humanity”.
Quiz competition – Our Quiz master Rev.Fr. Sijin Paul the brain
behind hosting an exhilarating quiz competition, conceptualized with the perception
of testing the knowledge and wits of Paulites was organized into multiple categories
namely general, memory, buzzer, word cookies, audio-visual & rapid-fire
rounds, covering a wide range of topics ranging from history & science, to
sports & entertainment... With a vibrant atmosphere and a passionate audience,
the event highlighted the importance of learning in a fun and engaging manner
since each round was designed to challenge the contestants while keeping the
audience engrailed and engaged.
In a genuine address to students and faculty, our Principal Rev
Fr. Martin Anto emphasized the importance of resilience in navigating through challenges
we face in our lives. In a beautifully conscripted speech pepped with words of
encouragement and inspiration as always, he reiterated that it is completely
normal to feel nervous before stepping into the spotlight, whether it be a stage
presentation, performance or then a public speaking event. The mantra to
overcoming stage fright is about having a positive mind-set and to and embrace
the energy and transform it into enthusiasm and joy..
In
would be unfitting to forget the hard-work of Ma’am Kavita Singhani under whose
expertise was the deftly crafted script for compering the entire event so
meticulous implemented by her team of senior students. The fest concluded with
students showcasing their artist talents decorating the school with intricate
Rangoli designs, clay pottery, hand-painted fabrics, Diwali greeting cards,
shimmering diyas, and intricate paper lanterns. The air was filled with
excitement as students collaborated to transform the school into a beautiful
reflection of Diwali’s essence.
The
highlight of the final day was a sincere gesture on the part of the school management
in showing our affection, love, compassion and warmth towards the elderly members
of our society by inviting around 20 Senior citizens from the Sevadham Ashram
at Kota, to witness the Ramlila
performed as a special dance drama by a group of talented artists from the
Raghvendra Kala Sanstha to depict the quintessence of the Ramayana and convey the message of “ Victory for the Good over
Evil and Light over Darkness”.
The Cultural Youth Fest at St.Paul’s Mala Road, was a resounding success and more
than just an event, it was a celebration of unity in diversity since it was intertwined
with the Diwali celebrations.. The fest not only showcased talents and
creativity but also reinforced the importance of community and cultural
appreciation fostering an environment where students learn from each other and
built lasting friendships, reminding everyone of the importance of preserving
traditions while embracing modernity along with the legacy and rich cultural
heritage of our Institution…
As the curtains closed the echoes of laughter
and applause lingered, leaving everyone eagerly awaiting next year’s
festivities, for such competitions help cultivate an environment where,
“Curiosity thrives and learning knows no bounds”...
Report Prepared by :- Mr. Fabian Duncan Fernandez