Diwali and Deepavali: Festival of lights

Learning objectives 

• Students gain knowledge and understanding of the significance of Diwali or Deepavali.
• Students learn about cultural diversity, including language, stories, and heritages.
• Students learn about the value of diversity which translates to respect, tolerance, and inclusion.
• Students learn about interconnections and aspects of life shared by, and common to, peoples and cultures.

Curriculum fit

Learning about different cultures and how each culture uniquely celebrates important events throughout the year creates bridges between different communities in the school.  Learning about other cultures cultivates mutual respect and understanding of different worldviews.

Core competencies

Social Studies: Personal and Social, Thinking

1. Understanding relationships and cultural contexts.
2. Building relationships. 
3. Contributing to the community and caring for the environment. 
4. Reflecting and assessing. 

Big ideas

• Our communities are diverse and made of individuals who have a lot in common.
• Healthy communities recognize and respect the diversity of individuals and care for the local environment.
• Canada is made up of many diverse regions and communities.
• People from diverse cultures and societies share some common experiences and aspects of life.

Curricular competencies

• Use Social Studies inquiry processes and skills to ask questions; gather, interpret, and analyze ideas; and communicate findings and decisions.
  • Contribute to a class collection of information on a common topic.
  • Collect information from personal experiences, oral sources, and visual representations.
• Explain the significance of personal or local events, objects, people, or places.
  • Research the history of a significant event or person in the history of your community.
• Explore different perspectives on people, places, issues, or events in their lives (perspective)
• Explain why peoples’ beliefs, values, worldviews, experiences, and roles give them different perspectives on people, places, issues, or events.

Assessments

• Assess students' ability to share new ideas, stories, and vocabulary. 
• Assess students’ ability to share relevant and culturally connected stories with peers.
• Have students ask each other questions about their story and assess comprehension of stories.

What is Diwali or Deepavali?

• Diwali or Deepavali are two names for the same Hindu festival marking the celebration of victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
• Deepavali originates from the Sanskrit words “deepa” (light) and “avali” (row) and is the celebration of lighting rows of lamps during the festival. 
• Although the names are different, the festival and customs are similar, such as cleaning homes, exchanging gifts, feasting, and lighting of lamps.
• Diwali and Deepavali are India’s biggest holiday of the year.  It is also known as the Festival of Lights.

When does Diwali and Deepavali take place?

• It takes place around mid-October or early November and follows the lunar calendar. Diwali/Deepavali is celebrated on a new-moon day.   
• Diwali is a five-day festival and mostly in north Indian states, where Deepavali is a four-day festival celebrated mostly by southern Indian states.

Who celebrates Diwali and Deepavali?

• Diwali and Deepavali are celebrated by people who practice Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism in India and in different parts of the world.

What do people do on Diwali and Deepavali?

• Traditionally, this festival is a time for families to get together, exchange gifts, and share food.   Clay lamps called diyas are lit with ceremony using oil or ghee. 
• During the festival, there are lots of lights, Kolam (art of Rangoli; intricate designs made with rice powder, limestone, and red brick powder), murukku (treats), open houses, gifts of money, and cookies.
• Diwali and Deepavali are about new beginnings and new light. 

The following story shares how one primary teacher celebrates this festival with her students: 

Deepavali Delights: Celebrating the Festival of Lights at our school.

A story by Ms. Silvakumari, Early Childhood Educator >40 years and Ms. Juita, niece of Ms. Silvakumari.

“In our multicultural school, teachers of Indian heritage introduced students to Deepavali (Diwali), the Festival of Lights, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

We shared the epic tale of Lord Rama's battle to rescue his wife, Sita, from the demon king, Ravana, where rows of oil lamps were lit to celebrate Lord Rama’s victorious return. Our students eagerly participated in the tradition of creating 'Kolams,' intricate rice grain designs adorned with small clay oil lamps (diyas) which symbolize this triumph of light over darkness. Kolams also serve as an appreciation of nature, offering sustenance to birds and ants after the festival.  With my students, I embarked on a colorful and creative adventure. We began by preparing various shades of rice using food coloring, and then we laid them out under the warm sun to dry. We carefully transferred a stunning Kolam peacock design onto the floor. Seated in a circle, we each took our turn, adding the different colored rice to the peacock design. Green, turquoise, blue, and gold were carefully placed to create the magnificent tail feathers. The body and head emerged, a beautiful combination of light and dark green and blue.

Students donned colorful traditional Indian attire like sarees, lehengas, and jippas, while a delicious feast featured Indian treats such as murukku, curries, dhal, vada, and dosa. The experience was enriched by Bharatanatyam dances, classical Indian music, and more cultural insights.

The students enjoyed this memorable event, fostering a deeper appreciation for diversity and respect for tradition.”
 

What and who