HOLI Hindu Festival of Colour - 23 March 2016

What’s your favourite season of the year, and why?  Share some ideas with your group

How do Hindus celebrate?  What happens during Holi? What happens during Holi  Watch the news report.  Why do Hindus celebrate Holi?  What symbolic things do they do to celebrate?

What are the origins of Holi? Religious (Hindu)Non-religious A celebration the god Krishna who was very mischievous as a young boy and threw coloured water over the gopis (milkmaids) This developed into the practical jokes and games of Holi. Holi marks the start of Spring – new life, energy and colour. Holika and Prahlad - This story is seen to symbolise good overcoming evil. Prahlad was a prince. His father, the king wanted everyone in his kingdom to worship him. But Prahlad refused and worshipped Lord Vishnu (God of protection) instead. The king's sister Holika tried to trick her nephew Prahlad into sitting on her lap in a bonfire in order to destroy him. But because of her trickery, Prahlad emerged from the fire unharmed, while Holika was devoured by the flames. Sometimes effigies of Holika are burnt on a bonfire. Ashes from Holi bonfires are thought to bring good luck. Equality – Hindus try to forget differences of caste, gender etc. With all that colour over everyone – it would be difficult to see who’s who! Harvest – Hindus look ahead from Spring and hope that seeds planted will result in a bounteous harvest.

Colourful hands  With a partner, collect a piece of brightly coloured A4 paper.  Draw round one of your partner’s hands (you need to fit two hands on the sheet).  Cut the hand shapes out.  On your partner’s hand, write something bright and positive about them.  Mix the hands up with the rest of the tutor group – can the group guess who the comments are about?

Display?  If there is space on your tutor board, perhaps you could display your hands. Here are some suggestions: