Diwali, the festival of light, is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world, and by many families within our own school community. This year it falls in early November, just as the girls return from half term, and classrooms right across the school will be marking it in their own way.
What is Diwali?
Diwali takes its name from the rows of small clay lamps, or divas, that families light in their homes. The festival lasts five days and celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Homes are cleaned and decorated, colourful rangoli patterns are created on doorsteps, families share sweets and gifts, and many pray to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune. For many families it also marks a fresh start and a new year.
Early Years: light, colour and stories
Our youngest children in the Early Years will be exploring Diwali through a range of activities. At this age, learning about a festival is all about the senses: the glow of lights, bright colours and patterns, music, and stories told aloud. These first encounters plant the idea that the people around us celebrate in different and wonderful ways.
Form I: making diva lamps
In Form I, the girls will be making their own diva lamps. Shaping and decorating a lamp is a lovely hands-on way to understand why light matters so much to the festival, and it gives the girls something to take home and talk about. It is also good for small hands, building the fine motor control that underpins neat handwriting.
Form III: one festival, many stories
Form III have been studying Diwali in depth as part of their work on folk stories from India in English lessons. So far they have:
- Read several versions of the Diwali story, alongside other Indian folk tales
- Read Lakshmi and the Clever Washerwoman, and two versions of Rama and Sita that tell quite a different tale
- Written their own retelling of the story and sequenced the main events
- Started preparing to role play the kidnap of Sita by the demon Ravana
Comparing two versions of the same story is a sophisticated skill for girls of seven and eight. It asks them to notice what the storyteller has chosen to include or leave out, and why, which is exactly the kind of thinking that will serve them well in English for years to come. Role play then brings the drama of the story to life and helps them remember the order of events when they come to write.
Why learning about festivals matters
Children are naturally curious about how other people live, and festivals are one of the most joyful ways in. Learning about Diwali alongside Christmas, Eid, Hanukkah and other celebrations through the year helps girls see the things that unite many traditions, such as light, family, food and generosity, as well as what makes each one special. It also means that girls who celebrate at home see their own traditions recognised and valued at school.
Celebrating Diwali at home
Whether or not your family celebrates, here are a few simple ways to explore the festival together:
- Ask your daughter to tell you the story of Rama and Sita, then read a picture-book version together
- Draw a rangoli pattern outside with chalk, or with coloured rice or sand on paper
- Light candles or fairy lights together after dark and talk about why light is such a powerful symbol
- Try making a simple Indian sweet such as coconut barfi
- Look at where Diwali is celebrated on a map, from India to Leicester
Moments like these are part of what makes school life at St Hilda’s so rich. If you would like to see our classrooms for yourself, personal tours run throughout the term.
