Quick Guide: Diwali in the classroom

Diwali is an annual celebration held by Hindus around the world. You may have a Hindu student in your class who celebrates this special day and it's important to find out so you can incorporate their annual celebration into your classroom celebrations. Most Hindus do celebrate birthdays but most do not celebrate traditionally religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter so Diwali is a great time to create some inclusivity in your classroom. In addition, you can teach your students about other community celebrations and traditions held around the world.

As a teacher of a student celebrating Diwali this is what you should know:

1. Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika so the date changes each year. This year (2018) Diwali will be celebrated on the 7th November.

2. Over 800 million Hindus celebrate Diwali each year around the world.

3. Diwali is sometimes called Deepavali or Festival of Lights.

4. The festival is a spiritual celebration of light over darkness.

5. Diwali is celebrated in different seasons. In the northern hemisphere Diwali is celebrated in the autumn and in the southern hemisphere it is celebrated in the spring.

6. Diwali is founded on an ancient legend about good triumphing over evil (light over darkness).

7. Hindus recognise Diwali as a commemoration for the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom Ayodhya. Traditionally candles are lit to help Lord Rama find his way back.

8. On the same night Jains, Sikhs and Newar Buddhists also celebrate Diwali for different spiritual reasons, so check which religion your students recognise and try to include the correct variation about it.

How to help students make connections with Diwali in your class.

In the past, I've let my Hindu students stand up and give the class a talk about Diwali and they have been so excited to share what this special time means to them. I recall my Prep student telling their classmates it 'feels like Christmas because you get special presents' so it's important to a) recognise these special events in their lives and b) use them as a teaching point for other students.

I often write these similarities on the board as my students discuss Diwali, as these are the key elements of all celebrations.

There are lots of fun ways you can incorporate Diwali into your classroom celebrations such as making some craft, colouring in a poster (free one available here) and perhaps bringing in some sweet traditional foods to share with students.