Mangaluru: With the theme ‘A tree can make a thousand matches but a match can burn a thousand trees’, Lourdes Central School celebrated Vanamahotsava on Friday, July 7.

The celebration began with a prayer followed by a prayer song.

Students presented slogans in English, Hindi and Kannada that read ‘stop being greedy and make this earth green’, ‘save trees and save the earth, we are the guardians of nature’s birth’.

Pramitha D’Souza briefed the assembly about the importance of Vanamahotsava. She highlighted the importance of conserving forest and planting trees.

Principal Fr Robert D’Souza and vice principal Belita Mascarenhas planted saplings as an expression of love and concern for nature.

The principal in his address said, "We have abused land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us. But when we see land as a community to which we belong, we will begin to use it with love and respect. He said ‘let us allow children to love the earth before we ask them to save it’."

He exhorted the students to plant at least one sapling and protect greenery.

He appreciated and congratulated the organisers and all the participants for their active involvement in the day's events, and for enlightening the student on Vanamahotsava through words and songs.