The skies held up for the most part last night at a full-dress National Day Parade rehearsal - until it came to the rousing finale.

As the crowd, comprising 22,000 Primary 5 pupils from 83 schools, got on their feet to sing Stand Up For Singapore, light drizzle gave way to pouring rain.

But the mood remained high at the floating platform at Marina Bay as performers, spectators and guest-of-honour Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean braved the rain throughout the pledge and National Anthem.

Anderson Primary School pupil Mageswaran Arasan, 11, said he did not mind getting wet.

'God must have heard our screams so he poured rain,' he said with a laugh.

The children had hollered themselves hoarse over the two-hour parade and show, the first of three National Education shows for schoolchildren.

They craned their necks to the skies and cheered as 10 Red Lions - the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) parachuting team - skydived to the ground.

Equally popular were the SAF and Home Team's displays of total defence, which showcased their weaponry, vehicles and aircraft.

But the biggest crowd-pleaser was the dazzling display of fireworks, which burst into the skies even as rain fell.

How did the 4,000 performers decked out in full costumes feel?

Said Peranakan dance performer Susan Lim, 45, whose orange kebaya was soaked: 'I think everybody enjoyed themselves even more when the rain came.'

Ang Yiying