Diwali
Last week Reception learned about Diwali. Diwali is celebrated at the end of October or the beginning of November. It marks the beginning of the new year in the Hindu calendar and is celebrated by people of Hindu, Sikh and Jain faiths. At Diwali, beautiful Rangoli patterns decorate floors outside homes and temples such as the Hindu Mandir and Sikh Gurdwara.
We started the week by looking at a book called A Row of Lights which introduces the festival of Diwali and tells the story of Rama and Sita.
Look at the pictures and ask your child if they can retell the story of Diwali to you.
Rama and Sita were banished to a forest for fourteen years. Rama’s brother Lakshmana went with them. Rama and Lakshmana went hunting and Ravana the demon, which is usually shown as a ten headed figure, transforms himself and appears to Sita as a holy man. Ravana captures Sita and takes her away in a flying chariot. Hanuman the monkey general helps Rama find Sita, and they defeat Ravana and rescue Sita, on their return home people lined the streets holding Divas in their honour, hence a row of lights.
As part of our Diwali topic the children made Rangoli patterns on biscuits during cooking using hundreds and thousands and chocolate beans.
They also used seeds and lentils and the computer during child initiated play to decorate symmetrical Rangoli patterns.
The children also made peacocks, small divas out of clay, wrote Diwali Cards and decorated paper hands with Mehndi patterns.
What lovely Diwali artwork!
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