Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com

Theme: Quote: Ritual: Event:

The truth shall make you free" Into that heaven of Freedom my Father, let my country awake R. Tagore. Humans in chains symbolizing socio-economic and spiritual bondage. . 15 August Independence Day

Introductory Song: Hindustan Hamara Refer: http://youtu.be/teB0uOfRuZY (As the assembly gathers for the prayer service the choir may sing /be played on the sound system ) Saare jahaan se achha Hindustan hamaara Hum bulbule(n) hai(n) uski Woh gulsitaan hamaara. Parbat woh sabse uncha Hamsaya a'smanka Woh santari hamaara Woh pasban hamaara. Godime(n) khelti hai(n) Jiski hazaaro(n) nadiya Gulshan hai jinki damse Raksh-I-jinan hamaara.. Mazhab nahin sikhaata Aapas main bair rakhna Hindi hain hum watan hai Hindustan hamaara. Introduction: Leader: Today we celebrate the 65th Independence Day of India when India attained freedom from British Raj and it is 64 years of freedom for Bharat Mata. We are fortunate that India is the worlds largest democracy and account for a huge human capital of 1.17 billion population to universal advantage The youthful population between the age 15 and 64 years is 735 million and the children in the 0 to 14 years is 365 million all born after 1947. They are our most valuable resource and our future hope to be harnessed for meaningful progress when our nation enjoy the true freedom of the spirit. We rejoice in the freedom won by the sacrifice of our forefathers at high price and commemorate that historical event with great pride, joy and enthusiasm. Let us celebrate the freedom in singing the song Born free sung by the choir. The song - Born Free: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISWOrI0WaLs
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
Born free, as free as the wind blows, as free as the grass grows, Born free to follow your heart. Live free and beauty surrounds you, the world still astounds you, Each time you look at the stars. Stay free where no walls divide you, you're free as the roaring tide, So there's no need to hide. Born free and life is worth living, but only worth living Cause you're born free. Reader 1: Free India is marching ahead on the path of progress and prosperity thanks to the sacrifice, energy and life of workers, farmers, soldiers, technicians, scientists, artisans whose good will and hard work contribute to the economy and status of the country. We are touched and inspired by the lives of those who teach, defend and uphold the values of freedom and integrity through the ordinary lives of many who cross our paths daily - at home, in the school, society and world at large. India The Real India lies beneath the shining India of impressive airports, super highways and sky towers, financial institutions and infrastructure. Although we are politically free we are still the slaves of illiteracy, exploitation, injustice, harassment etc and need to address ourselves to these problems to usher in a truly meaningful independence. One third of our 1.17 billion population lives below the levels of human sustenance in grinding poverty. Ritual 1: {5 Students (on the stage) dressed in white with placards (Caste system, Child labour, Consumerism, Corruption, Crime) pinned or in hand are bound in chains or ropes to symbolize the socio-economic bondage as the message below is read.} Reader 2: In a world of great progress in communication and technology, we are battling the shocking evils which terrorize us and trap us in bondage. The cruel chains of caste and gender discrimination, communalism, child abuse and child labour, corruption and scam, crime and terrorism, consumerism and pollution, poverty and illiteracy have blocked the freedom and growth of our country. Ritual 2: {3 students holding model of television, mobile phone, junk food as pepsi/lays/pizza tosymbolize personal/spiritual bondage come in as their point is read and then join the 1st group enchained} Leader: Real freedom is the freedom of the heart to make the spirit free to live in peace and harmony with enlightened choices. With the latest electronic gadgets that make work easy and life comfortable, are we truly free as individuals or in bondage to selfishness, pride, greed, envy without self control and discipline?
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
(Student holding the model of TV takes position) Television makes it possible for us to see in our homes what is happening far away - events taking place in other cities, countries and other continents directly through the satellite. Television brings musician and the music, the actor and his acting, politician and parliament within the four walls of our homes. The advertisements shown on the TV and other media fascinate us. The TV telecasts many educative and enlightening programmes to broaden our knowledge and perspective; but we waste our time watching unnecessary channels, distracted by the advertisements which attract us to buy luxury items and be a prey to consumerism. (Student with a cell phone or iPod) Mobile phones have revolutionized our lives in this digital age. The ability to access connection and communicate instantly has made our world smaller. But we can be addicted to the computer games, mobile, internet, face book spending long hours chatting with someone who is distant and give no time or thought to interact with family members at home. (Student holding junk food) We are attracted to junk foods as pepsi, pizza, panipuri, chaat, Chinese and fried foods. Junk or fast foods as wafers, colas, burgers are tasty, quick, convenient, fashionable in glossy wrappers, but are found to be high in fat and sugar causing obesity in children. Junk foods do not provide the essential healthy nutrients for our body and yet we are addicted to the taste and choose them as a substitute for balanced diet. We observe how we have become slaves to the materialistic culture and disregard the mastery of self. Let us now listen to the reading from the scripture read to us. Reader 3: Scripture Reading: is taken from the 1st letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 8 verse 9. Only be careful that this freedom of yours does not in any way turns into an obstacle to trip those who are vulnerable. Reader 4: (Reflection): Freedom is the most prized of all the blessings we do enjoy, that we thank God for it. It is said that The truth shall make you free. Freedom is not the right and the ability to do as one pleases, but the ability to move without constraint in the sphere for which God made us. Man was made in the image of God to be like Him and to reflect Gods holiness. Consequently Man is free only when he moves without restriction in the sphere of holiness and obedient to Gods law. Freedom is doing what is right and good, what is true and honourable, what is honest and just which brings inner joy of the spirit. Freedom is not to injure others but loves others and seeks the good of others. We pray that we prize our freedom that is controlled by purity of life, loving others and
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
obeying God's Word. Let us enjoy our liberty to do good and rejoice in the blessedness that comes when we obey the law of love. Reader 5: Prayer Song: "Geetanjali" R.Tagore (Joyful Lips O1 or Pray and Sing No. 375) http://youtu.be/Z95PfCuFeUU or http://youtu.be/VtMEWGfOFEo Rabindranath Tagore wrote the poem Where the Mind is Without Fear in the year 1913 before Independence during the peak hours of the cruel British Rule. This poem represents Tagore's dream of how the new, awakened India should be. He prays God to let his country awake to a blissful heaven of freedom. Tagores poem has continued to inspire Indians to create a free-thinking, united and dynamic nation. Tagore prays for a heaven of freedom, to denote the hell of slavery prevailing then. People cannot express themselves fearlessly. Knowledge is not free and spoken words no more come out from the depth of truth. The Nation is broken up into fragments, divided into isolated segments by geographical and political divide and rule policy. The poet prays to God that Indians should be logical & progressive in thoughts & actions. They should have the power to reason out the bad and useless customs. Only God can help by guiding the people and make India a paradise on earth. Reader 6: Ritual 3: (As the prayer is in process one student sweeps the white dupatta over the group of persons chained, while another student loosens the chain setting them free). Our response to each prayer will be sung with the choir the chorus of the song Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, / let my country awake.". We repeat Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, / let my country awake." Chorus: Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, / let my country awake." 1. Where the mind is without fear / and the head is held high; 2. Where knowledge is free; 3. Where the world has not been / broken up into fragments / by narrow domestic walls; 4. Where words come out from / the depth of truth; 5. Where tireless striving stretches / its arms towards perfection; 6. Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary/ desert sand of dead habit; 7. Where the mind is lead forward by thee / into ever-widening thought and actionPrayer for our Nation (Principal) Almighty God, bless our Nation and make it true to the ideas of freedom, justice and brotherhood for all who make it great. Guard us from war, terrorism, pestilence, fire, floods and droughts; from compromise, fear, corruption. Give to the leaders of our government the wisdom and courage to
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
respect the rights of everyone and work for the welfare of citizens to establish peace and justice. Make us more deeply aware of our heritage, realizing not only our rights and privilege, but also our duties and responsibilities as citizens. Grant us to fulfill the destiny you have ordained for us and our nation. Concluding Song: Honge Kamiyaab Refer: http://youtu.be/NizrBxg1wvQ Hum honge kamiyaab (3), ek din Homan mein hai vishwaas, poora hai vishwaas Hum honge kamiyaab ek din. Hum chalenge saath-saath Daal haatho(n) mein hath Hum chalenge saath-saath, ek din Man mein hai vishwaas, poora hai vishwaas Hum chalenge saath-saath ek din. Hogi shaanti chaaro aur (3), ek din Man hai vishwaas, poora hai vishwaas Hogi shaanti chaaro aur ek din. Nahi dar kisi kaa aaj Nahi bhay kisi ka aaj Nahi dar kisi ka aaj ek din Man mein hai vishwaas, poora hai vishwaas Nahi dar kisi ka aaj ek din. Hum honge kamiyaab (3), ek din Homan mein hai vishwaas, poora hai vishwaas Hum honge kamiyaab ek din. Requirements: (6 Readers and the choir to sing. Materials for the ritual 1 and 2 placards, model of a TV. Mobile, junk food and thick long rope/chain. white dupatta; ) .. When the prayer service is over we continue with the flag hoisting ceremony. Flag Hoisting Ceremony Today we pay a mark of respect to our freedom fighters because of whom we are breathing the air of freedom which does not have the elements of exploitation and repression. If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. Let us love our country for it is the land where our ancestors sleep, where our mother tongue is spoken; it is the home that God has given us that by striving to perfect ourselves here, we may prepare to ascend to him. (Giuseppe Mazzini) Let us now unfurl the flag(as the flag goes up) salute the flag while singing Jana gana mana Let us recite the General pledge: India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country. I am proud of its rich and varied heritage. I shall always strive to be worthy of it.
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
I shall give my parents, teachers and all elders, respect, and treat everyone with courtesy. To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their well being and prosperity alone, lies my happiness. Speech / song / skit We pay our respect to all the jawans who sacrifice their precious life, only to protect us from enemies and terrorists. They all are remembered always in our hearts and to the Lord in prayer. Jai Hind!!!! Concluding song: Vande Materam Refer: http://youtu.be/3g8nQuX8dUg Vande Maataram, vande maataram Sujala sufala malayaja-shitalaam Shashya-shyaamala maataram Vande maataram Shubhra-jyotsna-pulakita yaamini Phulakusumati-drumadala shobhini Suhaasini sumadhur bhaashini Sukhada varada maataram Vande maataram Koti Koti Kantha Kalakalaninada Karaale Koti Koti Bhujai.rdhritakharakaravale Abalaa Keno Maa Eto Bale Bahubaladharinim Namami Tarinim Ripudalavarinim Maataram Tumi Vidyaa Tumi Dharma Tumi Hridi Tumi Marma Tvam Hi Pranah Sharire Baahute Tumi Maa Shakti Hridaye Tumi Maa Bhakti Tomaara I Pratima Gadi Mandire Mandire Tvam Hi Durga Dashapraharanadharini Kamala Kamaladala Vihaarini Vani Vidyadayini Namami Tvam Namami Kamalam Amalam Atulam Sujalam Suphalam Maataram Shyaamalam Saralam Susmitam Bhushhitam Dharanim Bharanim Maataram
This independence day, I pledge to ..(Resolve on at least two things)

* Remember the greatness of India and its values while striving to do well materially * Stop blaming politicians and the system and take responsibility for bringing about change * Strive to root out all evil from our society - whether those linked to caste, regionalism, corruption, female infanticide, intolerance, etc. * Fight against all forms of discrimination * Take life seriously and stop the chalta hai (its okay) attitude * Strive towards excellence in all spheres
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019 Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
* Strive to uplift those weaker than us - whether physically or materially * Strive to live for others * Promise to bring about one positive change to the lives of others - however big or small * Learn to be happy always and spread this happiness around the world Jai Hind!

*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values* PRAYER SERVICE FROM AVEC