Students and teachers at the rangoli competition. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Oct. 24: Diwali festivities started on St Xavier’s School campus with a rangoli-making competition today. Enthusiastic students from classes III to XII put their best foot forward to stand supreme among peers.

The aim of the competition, school authorities said, was to involve the children in the traditions associated with the festival. The students formed teams of three and came up with more than 50 rangolis, one distinct from another. They got time of one-and-a-half hours to showcase their talents and made its best use with bright colours and innovative designs.

Apart from the usual accompaniments of rangoli — coloured rice, gulal, glitters — students used wheat flour, leaves and diyas to prepare the best rangoli of the day. The team of Monika Kumari, Sarena and Sana Adibi from Class IX C used wheat flour and rose leaves to make elephants, a component in their rangoli.

Sarena said: “It was fun to participate in a group because more ideas were generated. We had, in fact, been planning the event for the past month.”

For, Tripti Prakash, Sonal Kumari and Iha Rashmi Verma of Class IX B, too, the competition was special. This was their first foray into making rangoli even though the institution organises the competition every year. Tripti said: “This was the first time the three of us made a rangoli and were able to showcase our talents. Next year we will be in Class X and won’t be able to take part in so many competitions because of studies.”

Arya Verma, Shivani Kumari and Khushanjali from Class IV B feel bright colours go best with Diwali and that was reflected in their rangoli. If colours signify Diwali for Arya and group, diyas reign supreme for Shreya Kumari, Riya Kirti and Vaishnavi.

Teachers A.P. Osta, Bani Sinha, Mamta and Hemlata Masand judged the rangolis. St Xavier’s School principal Father George Nedumattam SJ, said: “We wanted our children to understand the traditions and not just burst crackers and buy new clothes.”