Joy of Giving, Joy of Loving – Christmas Celebrations at Carmel Central School

Carmel School CBSE Kotekar, celebrated Christmas with great joy and devotion through a unified programme held on 22nd and 23rd December 2025, creating a festive atmosphere that embraced students from Kindergarten to the higher classes. The celebration beautifully reflected the true spirit of Christmas—love, sharing, gratitude, compassion, and togetherness—and brought the entire school community together.

The celebration was graced by the esteemed presence of Mr. Antony Joseph, Principal, Yenepoya School CBSE, as the Chief Guest, whose presence added dignity and warmth to the occasion.

The programme commenced with a solemn prayer service, invoking God’s blessings and setting a reverent and peaceful tone for the celebration. This was followed by a graceful welcome dance, rich in festive creativity, symbolising joy, unity, and the spirit of Christmas. Tr. Prafulla extended a formal welcome and introduced the Chief Guest. Students also extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries present—Principal Sr. Pramila, Administrator Sr. Julie Ann, and Vice Principal Sr. Anitha—and offered a special welcome to the municipality workers, acknowledging their silent yet invaluable service to society.

A soulful dance performance honouring the Messiah beautifully conveyed the spiritual essence of Christmas. This was followed by a meaningful presentation highlighting the significance of various Christmas symbols such as the Christmas tree, Christmas star, crib, candle, bells, and St. Nicholas (Santa Claus), emphasising values of hope, light, sacrifice, joy, and generosity. The programme continued with lively and colourful dance performances that added vibrancy and festive cheer to the celebration.

An inspiring skit reminded everyone that the greatest gift of Christmas is love, encouraging acts of kindness, forgiveness, sharing, and compassion. The programme was further enriched by melodious Christmas carols, sung with joyful voices, spreading peace and goodwill among all present.

A special segment of the programme was dedicated to recognising the silent workers of society. The municipality workers were honoured in appreciation of their selfless service and dedication towards maintaining cleanliness and public well-being. As a gesture of gratitude and Christmas sharing, they were presented with a bag containing 10 kg of rice along with a Christmas cake, symbolising care, respect, and the true spirit of giving.

This was followed by prize distribution for various Christmas competitions, appreciating the enthusiasm, creativity, and active participation of the students. In keeping with the true spirit of Christmas, a monetary contribution was extended to a needy person, reinforcing the values of generosity, empathy, and social responsibility.

In his address, the Chief Guest, Mr. Antony Joseph, spoke eloquently about the true meaning of Christmas. He emphasised that Christmas is not merely about exchanging gifts, but about giving from the heart through love, kindness, and compassion. He described simple yet powerful words such as “thank you,” “please,” and “I am sorry” as social lubricants that help relationships flourish and create a harmonious society. Through a meaningful story, he highlighted the deeper message of Christmas and appreciated the students and teachers for presenting a value-based and inspiring programme, encouraging everyone to live the message of Christmas every day.

The programme concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks proposed by Janvi and Sanvi, expressing sincere gratitude to the management, dignitaries, teachers, students, guests, and all those who contributed to the success of the celebration.

The Christmas celebration at Carmel Central School was a memorable and enriching experience that truly reflected the joy of giving and the joy of loving, leaving everyone inspired, uplifted, and filled with festive cheer.