Lesson video

Hi, my name's Mrs. Charalambous, and welcome to today's lesson.

We're going to learn about Diwali in India and the UK.

I hope that you're ready for some interesting facts today.

Let's discover them together.

The lesson is from Festivals: How do ancient stories influence modern celebrations? Let's get started.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain what Diwali is, and how Hindu communities celebrate it in different ways.

Let's start with some key words.

Majority.

Majority.

The larger group of people or things.

Minority.

Minority.

The smaller group of people or things.

Diversity.

Diversity.

Doing things in a variety of ways.

Lakshmi.

Lakshmi.

The deity of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.

Our lesson outline looks like this today for Diwali in India and the UK.

Let's get started with cycle one.

What is Diwali and why is it celebrated? Jacob explains why we learn about different people in religious education.

He says, "We can better understand people's worldviews by listening to them and asking questions about how they live.

People show what is important to them by the things they do and the ways they celebrate." In this lesson, we will be learning about the celebration of Diwali in different countries to help us understand Hindu worldviews.

Dhanu, Kavita and Het are British Hindus who are getting ready for the Hindu Festival of Diwali.

Dhanu says, "We celebrate Diwali for five days, usually in October or November, depending on the lunar calendar." And that calendar revolves around the moon, lunar.

Het says, "Diwali marks the start of the Hindu New Year." It's different to New Year on the 31st of December.

And Kavita says, "Diwali is also known as the festival of lights." Let's take a moment to check our understanding with true or false.

Diwali is only celebrated by Hindus in India.

True or false? That's right, it's false.

Why? Hmm, take a moment to think before I reveal the answer.

Because the Hindu Festival of Diwali is celebrated by millions of Hindus in India and around the world.

Well done if you've got that question correct.

Let's carry on.

Hindus may remember different stories at Diwali.

Not everyone focuses on the same story.

This shows diversity.

There is more than one way of celebrating Diwali.

Some Hindus remember the story of Rama and Sita from the Ramayana.

They remember their exile in the forest, the kidnap of Sita by Ravana, and their return home.

For many Hindus, Diwali marks the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

Het talks about the Diwali story that is told in his family.

"I think the story of Rama and Sita is important during Diwali, because it reminds me that good will always win over evil.

When Rama defeated Ravana, it showed that even in tough times, we can overcome challenges and bring light back into the world." Let's take a moment to check our understanding with this multiple-choice question.

Why do Hindus think the story of Rama and Sita is important during Diwali? A, it celebrates the defeat of Ravana, B, it reminds them that good will always win over evil, C, it celebrates the moon and the stars, D, it reminds them that they should throw a party.

Take a moment to think before I reveal the answer.

That's right, it's B.

It reminds them that good will always win over evil.

Let's carry on.

This is Lakshmi.

Some Hindus focus on the deity Lakshmi during Diwali.

Lakshmi is the deity of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.

Lakshmi emerged from the churning of the ocean with many treasures, choosing Lord Vishnu as her partner.

For Kavita and her family, the focus of Diwali is Lakshmi.

She says, "My family perform a special puja or ceremony asking Lakshmi to visit our home on Diwali night.

We believe she'll bring good luck and happiness for the year ahead." Let's take a moment to check for understanding with this true or false.

Lakshmi is believed to visit homes during Diwali, bringing good luck and happiness for the year ahead.

True or false? That's right, it's true.

Why? Because Lakshmi is the deity of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.

Let's carry on.

Dhanu remembers both Rama and Lakshmi at Diwali.

She says, "At Diwali, I think about how Rama used his knowledge for good, but Ravana used his learning to be selfish and cruel.

I also ask Lakshmi for blessings, for prosperity, and happiness in the new year.

Both are important to me, because they remind me that good will triumph over evil and we can invite blessings into our lives." I wonder, do you celebrate anything that might have double meaning? Task A.

Izzy and Lucas are thinking about the diversity of Diwali and why it is celebrated.

Izzy says, "I think the most important reason Hindus celebrate Diwali is to remember the story of Rama and Sita.

It shows how good always wins over evil." Lucas says, "That's right, Izzy, but I think there is another story told at Diwali." What other story might Hindus remember at Diwali, and why? How does this show diversity? Pause the video here so you can carry out this activity, and when you are done, press play for some feedback.

Task A feedback time.

What other story might Hindus remember at Diwali, and why? How does this show diversity? You may have answered, "Another story that Hindus might celebrate at Diwali is the story of Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, because they believe at Diwali she brings blessings of prosperity, happiness, and good fortune for the year ahead.

Having two stories that Hindus remember at Diwali shows difference and variety within this religion.

Different families choose what to remember and celebrate." If you'd like to share your feedback with me, now is the time.

Well done, let's carry on.

Cycle two.

How is Diwali celebrated in the UK and India? Diwali is celebrated around the world, included in India and the UK.

Take a look at this map.

It's a map of the world, well, most of the world.

What do you think this map of part of the world is showing us? Hmm, take a moment to think before I reveal the answer.

That's right.

The green, did you spot it there? This is the UK.

What about the red? That's right, the red, this is India.

And can you tell, they're very far apart, but both have celebrations of Diwali? Which country do you think has the larger Diwali celebrations? Hmm, take a moment here to think about that answer.

I'm not going to tell you just yet.

Let's find out together.

We can use data to find out how many people celebrate Diwali in both of these countries.

About 1 million people in the UK celebrate Diwali, and around 966 million people celebrate Diwali in India.

It is one of the biggest and most widely celebrated festivals in the country.

Wow, so many people celebrating in India, compared to the UK.

We can see that there are a lot of people celebrating Diwali across the world.

Only 1.

7% of the UK's population celebrate Diwali, as Hindus are a minority, the smaller group.

Around 80% of India's population are Hindu, making Diwali one of the biggest and most widely celebrated festivals in the country, as they are a majority, the bigger group of people in that country.

Let's take a moment to do true or false.

The majority of the UK celebrate Diwali.

True or false? That's right, it's false.

Why? Take a moment to think, and share your answer before I reveal the answer.

The majority of India celebrate Diwali as the majority are Hindus.

In the UK, Hindus are the minority, so not a lot of people celebrate Diwali.

Where do you think this is? Hmm, can you see any clues? What do you think is happening? These are all photos of Diwali taken in India, and we can see fireworks going off in the street, houses with lights covered in them, and steps with diya lamps.

Diwali is a national holiday in India, celebrated by most of the country, because Hindus are the majority.

Many cities hold firework displays, large feasts, and community celebrations.

And here are two more pictures showing the big community firework displays and celebrations happening.

In India, streets, homes, and mandirs are decorated with lights, diyas, and rangoli patterns.

A diya lamp is a small clay pot with a candle in it, lit at Diwali to remember the return of Rama and Sita to their home.

A rangoli pattern is a bright pattern created on the floor by the door to welcome visitors into Hindu homes.

Dhanu tells us what it's like in India during Diwali.

She says, "When I celebrate Diwali in India, it feels magical.

The whole country lights up with diyas, fireworks, and decorations.

Everywhere I go, people join in our Hindu celebrations, and the atmosphere is full of joy.

I love visiting mandirs, seeing the streets covered in lights, and enjoying big feasts with my family.

It feels special as everyone around me is celebrating too." Do you have a festival that you celebrate? How does it make you feel? Let's check our understanding with this multiple-choice question.

Pick all the ways Diwali is celebrated in India.

A, Hindus break their fast, B, Hindus decorate with diyas and rangoli patterns, C, it's a national holiday, D, Hindus have big firework displays.

Take a moment here before I reveal the answers to you.

That's right, it's B, C, and D.

Hindus decorate with diyas and rangoli patterns.

It's a national holiday in India, and during Diwali, Hindus have big firework displays.

Good job.

Let's carry on.

Here is Kavita, and she's going to tell us more about what she and her family do at Diwali in the UK.

"Where I live, there is a small Hindu community.

We celebrate Diwali together at the mandir and at our home.

At Diwali, we decorate our homes with rangoli patterns and diya lights.

Here I am holding one of the diyas.

We do this to remember that with God's help, good can always overcome evil.

Here I am in our garden with my brother enjoying fireworks and sparklers.

We have these at Diwali to remember that light always overcomes darkness.

At Diwali, I go to the mandir with my family and we get to eat lots of tasty treats.

Here I am with all the special food that has been made.

It is given as an offering to God and then shared between everyone.

It's a special time." I wonder what you can see there.

Lots of fruit.

Sure that Kavita enjoyed having those treats.

Hindus are a minority in the UK, so Diwali is not a public holiday like Christmas Day is.

And remember, minority is a smaller group.

Where there are larger Hindu communities in the UK, there are often large public Diwali celebrations.

Leicester, which is in the Midlands of the UK, has the largest Diwali celebration outside of India.

Let's check our understanding with true or false.

Some Hindus in the UK visit mandirs during Diwali.

True or false? That's right, it's true.

Why? Take a moment here to share some of your thoughts with me.

"Some Hindus visit their local mandir and have fireworks at home during Diwali.

They also decorate their homes with diyas and rangoli patterns." Task B, Part One.

Think about the similarities and differences between how Hindus celebrate Diwali in India and the UK.

Your answers could start with the following sentences.

During Diwali, Hindus in India and the UK both.

In India, Hindus celebrate by.

Whereas, in the UK, Hindus celebrate Diwali by.

And then part two, discuss why do you think Diwali celebrations are different in India and the UK? Pause the video here so you can carry out the activity.

When you are ready to carry on, press play.

Task B feedback time.

Your answers might look like this.

Part one.

"During Diwali, Hindus in India and the UK both light diyas, create rangoli patterns, visit mandirs, and spend time with family.

In India, Hindus celebrate by having large public celebrations, setting off fireworks in the streets, and enjoying a national holiday where most people take time off.

Whereas, in the UK, Hindus celebrate Diwali by attending mandirs and community events, lighting fireworks in their gardens.

Whereas in the UK, Hindus celebrate Diwali by attending mandirs and community events, lighting fireworks in their gardens, and taking time off from school or work, since it's not a public holiday.

Would you like to share your part one with me now? Yes.

Good thinking.

Let's move on to part two, feedback.

"Diwali is widely celebrated in India as Hindus there are the majority.

In the UK, Hindus are a minority, so celebrations are small and often held at home, in mandirs, or in community spaces.

Let's do summary for Diwali in India and the UK.

Diwali is a five-day celebration observed by millions of Hindus in India and worldwide.

The story of Lakshmi, as well as the Ramayana, is told by some Hindus during Diwali.

Different Hindu traditions may focus on different events, showing diversity.

Many Hindus decorate their homes with lights and patterns to welcome Lakshmi, and ask for blessings in the year ahead.

Diwali looks different in a Hindu-majority country like India, compared to the UK, where it is celebrated by a minority of the population.

Well done for today's learning.

Lots of data that we looked at today, very interesting.

And I hope to see you soon.

Bye for now.