The downpour in the early hours of Saturday night did not dampen the spirits of the Aualuma Sa Iliganoa from the village of Faletagaloa Safune on the big island of Savai'i. 

The Aualuma (which comprises the widowed and unmarried daughters of the village) prepared a special program as part of this year's celebration of Samoa's 60th Independence anniversary. 

The aualuma a Sa Iliganoa were divided into three different groups which are the sub-villages within Faletagaloa and were asked to prepare traditional dances, sulatoga, floats and each had to nominate a candidate for a tausala contest. 

The event was well-attended and supported by the elders and members of the village of Faletagaloa Safune. The activities started off with a float parade starting from the village of Matavai all the way to Fatuvalu. 

Each float had different stories and themes behind the colorful decorations put together by the aualuma. 

The leader of Sa Iliganoa, Paepae Fa'alupega spoke about the significance of the event, saying that it's their way of supporting the Government's initiative for every district to come up with their own program to celebrate Samoa's 60th anniversary. 

Another senior tama'ita'i, Faleolefe'e Tupuimatagi said the programme put together by Sa Iliganoa this year is also a way to showcase the talents of the women in the village. 

It was also an opportunity for the young girls to learn more about the Samoan culture and to teach them some of the practices that are seldom performed in Samoa today. 

"I think there's no doubt that life in Samoa is not the same as to what it was ten or twenty years ago," Faleolefe'e said. 

"Our culture has changed overtime and this is one way we can educate our children and daughters about our culture. 

"I know it is also being taught in school but once the students graduate, they will no longer have the opportunity to learn more about these cultural practices. 

"However, this can be one way in which we can use to revive some of the old cultural practices we used to do back in the days. 

"The saofa'iga within the village is a very important part of our culture and way of life so it's important that our daughters are aware of their place and their obligations when the village council have meetings and when we host guests. 

"We understand that they are the future leaders of our families and villages so these kind of stuff are very useful for them to learn more about their culture and the Samoan way of life."

The programme concluded with a taualuga performed by the Aumaga (untitled men of the village) a Sa Leota led by the High Chief of Safune, Leota Kuki Retzlaff and all the elders from the village.