Amidst Sri Lanka’s vibrant culture and our numerous celebrations, there’s a day that outshines all others– Sri Lanka’s Children’s Day, which is celebrated on the 1st of October.
This is a day that contains the spirit of childhood, and its significance goes beyond just a day on the calendar. October 1st is a day of celebrating our innocence, our youth and aspirations while laying down the groundwork for a better tomorrow.
Sri Lanka’s children’s day is not just another holiday. It is an enthusiastic appreciation of the future of our country. Parents, teachers and communities join together to shower children with love and care. Special programs are held in schools all over the country and the sound of children’s joy and laughter can be heard throughout the nation. It’s a day to acknowledge and celebrate the fact that every child deserves to grow up healthy and in happiness.
But Children’s Day is about more than just having fun and receiving presents. Children are given the opportunity to express their hopes for the future and their thoughts and are encouraged to do so. They are taught that their opinions matter and that they have the power to influence their own future. It also provides a huge platform for nurturing creativity and innovation among children. There are numerous opportunities for kids to display their talents and gain accomplishments, including talent shows, art exhibitions and games.
The good thing about Sri Lanka’s Children’s Day is that this celebration is not exclusive to one background only. All children are embraced and celebrated regardless of their ethnicity, family background and circumstances. Many organizations and people use this day as an opportunity to donate to children’s charities, orphanages, and hospitals, in the hope of bringing a smile to the faces of those children too. After all, every child deserves memories of a happy childhood.
In today’s fast paced world, children are forced to grow up too quickly. Their childhood gets overshadowed with schoolwork and exceeding the expectations set by their family and teachers. Children’s Day is a reminder for both adults and children to let children be children.
It’s a day to be young, wild, and free while enjoying the magic of childhood. It’s a reminder to children that they are the future, and that our elders believe in our ability to create an even brighter future.
Some of my best memories from my childhood revolve around Children’s Day. Growing up as the only child in a very strict family meant that I wasn’t given the chance to always enjoy myself. Life was a continuous cycle of school and tuition classes. But no matter how strict our school was, we would always be allowed to have fun on the 1st of October.
I remember one time we spent the entire day playing tag on the school grounds. It was a day full of laughter. We’d play for some time and go running to our class teacher who had snacks for us and then we would repeat it all over again. It didn’t matter that we were already teenagers, we were like little kids, running around each other to win. By the end of the day, our once pristine white uniforms were the color of dirt, we were covered in scrapes, but our faces and hearts were full of happiness and joy.
Children’s Day is a reminder that childhood is a very precious but very fleeting time period in one’s life. It’s a time when we see everything as wonderful, and every day is an adventure. This day is a reminder for us to preserve the innocence and joy of childhood while also looking forward with hope, envisioning a brighter tomorrow.
Penned By:
Rtr. Tanuri Dissanayake
Editorial Committee Member 23.24
