City schools are gearing up to celebrate Independence Day, which is round the corner, with great pomp and show.

Students are rehearsing patriotic songs, making tableaux and preparing for special sports events and cultural shows. While the tiny tots are thrilled about getting a day off, seniors are putting in a lot of effort for the customary march past drill.

"Every year, students prepare and celebrate Independence Day with great vigour. The highlights of the day are march past, patriotic songs, fusion dances and speeches. The students are putting in their best to show their love for their motherland," said St Michael's High School principal Peter Arockiasamy.

Principal of Radiant International School M.S. Rahman said: "I want the students to follow the path shown by our freedom fighters and work towards liberating India from the clutches of social evils like poverty, corruption and illiteracy."

Some schools will also organise a felicitation ceremony to honour meritorious students on Independence Day.

Vijay Kumar, the vice-principal of Usha Martin World School, said: "On August 15, students will present skits, cultural shows, patriotic songs and speeches. We are organising a scholar's award function to give certificates and medals to students of the last academic year. We are also inviting the guardians and will encourage them to know their rights. Senior students are putting in a lot of effort to make the event a grand success while the juniors are busy making flags."

Anushree, a Class II student of St Joseph's Convent High School, said: "I love to paint and have made three flags on chart paper this year. I have also learnt how to make flag badges with ribbons," she added.

Sachi Singh, a Class XI student of St Michael's High School, said: "Usually, we practise march past only in the physical training period. But as Independence Day is coming close, we are going for intensive practise. The girls participating in the patriotic dance competition are even staying back after school hours or are rehearsing at a friend's place. The teachers, too, are involved in the preparations and keep a track on our activities."

Anshul Kumar, a Class VII student of St Xavier's High School, said he was preparing a skit to enact some scenes related to Independence Day to sensitise the students and let juniors know the importance of this day.