Theme - Celebrating the legacy, Heralding the future

Hymn
India is a secular country – It doesn’t attach its politics with any religion. Indians
celebrate all festivals or they have entire freedom to celebrate any religion in the country
regardless of their caste and creed. Keeping this in mind let us listen to what all the
religions have to say about being secular.
Scripture Reading
Bible reading
Reading from the Bhagwad Geeta
Reading from the Koran
Petitions
Response after every petition is: Lord! Bestow on us your wisdom.
1. India faces threats to its sovereignty more from the inside than the outside. The
country is now rocked by religious and naxal terrorism rise of communalism,
casteism and social disharmony. Lord we as young citizens pray that good sense
prevails in the minds and hearts of extremists who are bent on spreading chaos
and destruction and that we may not be influenced by such destructive ideologies.
Response……. Lord! Bestow on us your wisdom.

2. Our constitution gave us four rich ideologies of justice, liberty, equality and
fraternity. Unfortunately, we have more than often viewed our fellow citizens and
even our classmates with prejudices against their backgrounds. Lord, therefore we
seek your divine assistance to give us the strength to treat everyone equally.
Response…. Lord! Bestow on us your wisdom.

3. We pray for equal rights for the girl child and women in our country. In a nation
where goddesses are worshipped, on the other hand women are denied basic
human rights and exploited. Lord protect the women in our country that they may
treated equally and may all facilities may be provided for their growth and
development. Response…… Lord! Bestow on us your wisdom.

4. Lord it was on this day that India was made into a Republic bestowing utmost
power to the people through the democratic system. Give your wisdom to the
people of India to always use their voting power to elect good, God -fearing,
dedicated leaders to our nation ahead. Response…… Lord! Bestow on us your
wisdom.

5. We pray, Lord for our country's safety. We ask that you bless the soldiers that
guard our borders. We ask that you keep those that live here safe from others who
would do us harm for being free, for worshipping you, and for allowing people to
speak freely. We pray, Lord, that we one day see an end to the fighting and that
our soldiers come safely home in a world that is both grateful and no longer needs
them to fight. Response…… Lord! Bestow on us your wisdom.
Thanksgiving Prayer
O! God with humble hearts we are gathered here to lift up to you our gratitude and
thankfulness for our great nation.
You have blessed our country with bounty and beauty of farms and field, nature,
mountains and oceans.
With sparkling lights in the skies and candles lit on lands during every festive season.
We are thankful for our protected boundaries by every brave heart and for the
brotherhood shared by neighbouring nations.
May each of our homes be bestowed with peace and compassion so that our country
embraces friendliness, sensitivity and tolerance.
As we head into the new year with new yieldings of love, respect and prosperity to our
nation and its leaders be blessed. We make this prayer with a grateful heart.
Amen

Hymn