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• What does the word Diwali mean? • Why do we say Hindu traditions and not Hinduism? • Which religions celebrate Diwali? • Which foods would you expect at a Diwali party? how it is done. You may wish to look at regional variations or how these days are marked outside of India, such as traditions by British Hindus. While the bright lights and feasting will attract children’s attention, ensure that they do not miss the theological and worship aspects of the celebrations, such as performing pujas (rituals and prayers) and chanting mantras. To solidify learning, try making a visual calendar, where children illustrate each day of Diwali on a calendar template with ‘row of lights’), which is a fundamental act symbolising the triumph of light over darkness, and which invites the deities into homes. Like many other festivals, during Diwali, homes and offices are cleaned and decorated; feasting and gifts are shared; new clothes are worn; and fireworks are lit. Hindu Diwali takes place over five days. The five days of Diwali are known as Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj. Each day has a special focus, such as welcoming and then worshipping Lakshmi, purifying oneself or marking the bonds between brothers and sisters. Look at each day in turn, exploring what is celebrated on each day and • Explore the history and theology behind Diwali in Jain, Sikhi and Buddhist traditions. • Compare how one Abrahamic faith (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and Hindus mark their festivals of light (e.g. Hanukkah, Candlemas, and Hijrah). What is the same and what is different or unique? • Task children to write their own version of one of the Hindu sacred stories for a younger pupil. • Compare how British and Indian Hindus mark Diwali. EXTENDING THE LESSON representations of each celebration. Pupils can use drawings, collage materials, and key words to bring their calendars to life. 3 | OTHER TRADITIONS While Hindu traditions are most famously associated with Diwali, the festival is also celebrated by millions of Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. For these faiths, the festival still carries the core message of the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, but they relate it to key events and figures in their own histories. For Jains, Diwali commemorates the nirvana (liberation) of their spiritual leader, Lord Mahavira, and is marked by prayer and solemn reflection. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas (“Prisoner Release Day”), which honours the release of the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind, from wrongful imprisonment. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is famously lit up to mark his return. Some Buddhists, particularly in Nepal, also celebrate Diwali, which is often called Ashok Vijayadashami, in part to show a thankfulness for nature, and to ask for forgiveness. Depending on age and ability, you could interrogate this information in a few ways. Children could make a Venn diagram of Hindu traditions and Jain and/or Sikhi; comparing and contrasting the “Many religions have a festival of lights, which mark a triumph of good over evil” USEFUL QUESTIONS stories’ contents. Children could also mix in some non-fiction report writing, and split into groups to create mini fact files for each religion’s celebration of Diwali, using images and perhaps even filmed segments explaining the festivals’ key features. The BBC has a great article on how four different people from around London celebrate Diwali, at tinyurl. com/tp-LondonDiwali Matthew Lane is an RE Lead and author. His new book, Religious Education: A Subject Knowledge Handbook , is coming soon from Bloomsbury. www.teachwire.net | 93