By Alfred Menezes SDB for BIS Mumbai

Shelter Don Bosco came alive with patriotic spirit and cultural pride as the boys and staff gathered to celebrate Hindi Diwas on September 14. The day was marked by a series of engaging competitions and activities, all aimed at honoring Hindi as the official language of India and promoting its usage among the youth.

The program began with a brief introduction on the importance of Hindi Diwas. The speakers highlighted how the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi, written in Devanagari script, as the official language of the nation on September 14, 1949. The boys were encouraged to use proper Hindi in their daily communication and to appreciate its beauty and cultural richness.

The celebrations then moved into the competitions, which brought out the creativity and talents of the participants. The first event was the speech competition, where several boys delivered powerful talks on the value of Hindi in uniting diverse communities across India. Their confidence and clarity of thought left the audience inspired and proud of their mother tongue.

Next came the poem recitation competition. The boys chose both self-composed and well-known Hindi poems, delivering them with emotion and passion. The rhythm of words and the depth of feelings conveyed through poetry created a touching atmosphere that celebrated the expressive power of Hindi literature.

The artistic side of the celebration was reflected in the poster-making competition. The participants beautifully captured themes such as “Unity in Diversity,” “Pride of Hindi,” and “Our National Language.” as they designed posters online and sent them to the organisers. The posters were shown to all, receiving much appreciation by the audience.

The grand finale of the day was the quiz competition, which tested the boys’ knowledge of Hindi language, literature, grammar, and famous personalities associated with Hindi. Teams competed enthusiastically, answering questions with excitement and a healthy spirit of competition. The quiz not only entertained but also deepened their understanding of the language.

The event concluded with a message of encouragement from the staff, appreciating the efforts of all participants. It was emphasized that Hindi is not just a medium of communication, but also a bridge to our culture, values, and heritage.

The Hindi Diwas program at Shelter Don Bosco was thus a meaningful celebration that combined knowledge, creativity, and fun, leaving the boys more motivated to honor and preserve the Hindi language.