QFL: Can I explain how and why Diwali is celebrated?

Diwali

Homework

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The story of Rama

and Sita

A good man, called Rama, was married to a beautiful princess, called Sita.

They had been banished to live in the forest with his brother, Lakshman, by his stepmother, as she wanted her

son to be King.

Ravana, the Demon king with ten heads, heard of Sita’s beauty and goodness and planned to kidnap her. By magic, he conjured up a golden fawn. She asked Rama to capture it

The demon king disguised himself as an old man and tricked Sita. He kidnapped her and flew away on his

chariot back to his island, Lanka.

Rama and Lakshman searched many months for Sita.

Finally, they asked Hanuman, king of the monkey army,

for help. Hanuman could fly.

He found Sita imprisoned on the island of Lanka. Hanuman,

Rama and Lakshman prepared themselves for battle.

This was one of the greatest battles ever seen. The fighting lasted for ten whole days.

It looked as though Ravana was going to win, until Rama borrowed a special bow and arrow from the gods. Rama shot

Ravana and the battle was won.

Rama rescued Sita and they decided to go home. As it got dark, the people of the

kingdom put out little oil lamps (divas) in their windows to show the way home.

Everyone was happy and Rama and Sita ruled well. Now every year

people remember this story at Divali by lighting diva lights inside

their homes and fireworks outside.

1) What signs of Rama’s good character are there in the story?

2) Where in the story does Sita show loyalty and courage?

3) List the ways in which Rama and Sita are good examples to children

The story of Rama and Sita isnot only good entertainment, itis full of religious and moralteaching for Hindus. Hindusbelieve that Rama was God inhuman form and that humans

should learn from his example.

The story of Diwali symbolises the victory of good over ______. Ram’s battle with the demon

_______ shows that those who do wrong will always be ________. Hindus, at Diwali, aim to move from ________ to _________; to start the new year afresh of all their wrong-doings.

light darkness Ravana

evil defeated

What is Diwali?

• Diwali is a very old Indian Festival

• Diwali lasts for five days

• It means row of lamps

• Diwali is also known as the Festival of lights

• The most important festivalLevel 3: State the religious festival

Level 4: describe the religious festival

complete the following table...

Day: What happens:

1

2

3

4

5

As we look at the following information fill in the table...

Level 3: State the religious festivalLevel 4: describe the religious festival

Day One

On the first day people clean the front of their house and make beautiful designs on the ground called ‘rangoli’ using colourful powders. Food is prepared and oil lamps are lit.

Level 3: State the religious festivalLevel 4: describe the religious festival

Day Two

On the second day, people light lamps and burn firecrackers at night. They have to make sure that we look good. We have baths with oils and then we receive gifts off our parents of new clothes and jewellery.

Level 3: State the religious festivalLevel 4: describe the religious festival

Day Three

On the third day, people worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. Businesses hope that Lakshmi will bring them good luck in the coming year. This is the main day of the festival, people go to the temple in the morning with their families. They say lots of prayers and get to eat the sweets that their mothers have made and then they have sparklers, crackers and fireworks.

Level 3: State the religious festivalLevel 4: describe the religious festival

Day Four

This is the start of the Hindu new year. On this day everybody dresses in their new clothes and visit the biggest temple in their town or city with their families.

Level 3: State the religious festivalLevel 4: describe the religious festival

Day Five

On the final day of the festival a brother should be with his sister wherever she is, then the girl will receive a gift off her brother such as new clothes or sweets.

Level 3: State the religious festivalLevel 4: describe the religious festival

The story of Diwali

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/re/b-dag/ngfl-container/re-unit3-en.html

http://tes.iboard.co.uk/activity/generic/.YX4ar2rt6mw4Kh1hQfaJT

Level 3: State the religious festivalLevel 4: describe the religious festival

Level 5: Explain why Hindus celebrate Diwali

Diwali remembers several different s_____. One of the most popular is from the R_____. It tells how Prince R___ won the battle against his enemies & found his wife S____. They returned home and R___ was crowned king. L_____ were lit for R____’s victory procession. There are also stories about how V_____ won a battle with a wicked g_____ & how he tricked a k____ who was trying to take over the w_____.

Level 5: Explain why Hindus celebrate Diwali

Imagine that you have been invited to spend a day with an Indian family during Diwali and that you have joined in the celebrations. Write a letter to a friend describing the experience.

Use the letter writing sheet.

Level 3: State the religious festivalLevel 4: describe the religious festival

Level 5: suggest reasons for the different beliefs people hold

Diwali is also a Sikh festival. It particularly celebrates the the release from prison of the sixth guru, Hargobind Singh in 1619.

However Sikhs had celebrated it before that, and the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the holiest place in the Sikh world, was laid on Diwali in 1577.

Level 4:... make comparisons between religionsLevel 5:...explain how features of religious life & practise are

shared by different religions

Like Christmas in the West, Diwali is very much a time for buying and exchanging gifts.

Traditionally sweets and dried fruit were very common gifts to exchange.

Diwali is also a traditional time to redecorate homes and buy new clothes.

Level 4:... make comparisons between religionsLevel 5:...explain how features of religious life & practise are

shared by different religions

Read the sheet of the story of Rama and Sita. Tell the story in your own words in the form of a storyboard.