Diwali 2011

Diwali, one of the biggest Hindu festivals, is celebrated according to the lunar Hindu calendar and falls on different days each year. Diwali was celebrated at Golden Bead on October 28th 2011. The children came dressed in traditional clothes.

Sangeetha aunty narrated the story of Diwali and its significance. According to Hindu mythology, Prince Rama and his wife, Sita, were banished for fourteen years from their home in Ayodhya to the forest by their father, King Dashratha. Ram’s brother, Lakshmana , accompanies them. While in the forest, Sita was kidnapped by Ravana and taken to Lanka. Rama however vanquishes Ravana and his army and rescues Sita. The people of Ayodhya lit diyas(oil lamps) to celebrate Rama’s victory over Ravana and welcoming Rama and Sita back to Ayodhya where Rama was crowned King of Ayodhya.

The pre-primary children sang traditional songs, painted diyas and performed a pooja. 

The elementary children made diyas in pottery class and painted them. Joyti helped made a beautiful Rangoli and the children shared sweets with each other. 

Eid-ul-Fitr Celebrations

On Eid a guest - Asiya was invited to the elemetary classroom. She explained the significance of Eid and Ramzan or Ramadan to the children.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and a time when Muslims across the world fast during the daylight hours. Muslims follow a lunar calender, so Ramadan moves forward by ten or eleven days each year. 

During Ramadan, get up early before dawn (Fajr) and have a light meal. This time is known as Suhoor. At the end of each day (Maghrib), Muslims traditionally break their fast with a meal called the Iftar. Following the custom of Prophet Muhammad, the fast is often broken with dates, then followed by a prayer and dinner. 

Ramadan is a time of worship and contemplation. Muslims celebrate the time when the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. A time to strengthen family and community ties. Ramadan concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. 
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the breaking of the fast at the end of Ramadan. Lasting 3 days, it is a time for family and friends to get together, for celebrating with good food and presents for children, and charity. It's date is decided by the sighting of the new moon. 
Asiya taught the children some songs (Nasheed). The children they did some painting on the theme of Eid and later applied mehendi on their hands. The celebration ended with everyone enjoying some sweet 'sheer kurma'.
 

Independence Day 2011

Independence day was a holiday but on 16 August 2011 the elementary children performed a Hindi skit - 'Hans aur Siddharth'. The skit was directed by Thea. Saniya and Ambar also spoke about the freedom fighters of the nation.