This week grades students celebrated Deepavali, or Diwali, the joyful Hindu festival of light. It was a beautiful reminder that other traditions and cultures have much to teach us and share with us. The 4th-8th grade students took Wednesday to create intricate rangoli outside our main entrance. Rangoli are a traditional part of this celebration and are usually created using rice powder, turmeric and kumkum powders. After practicing the forms we were going to create, we used chalk to draw these beautiful freehand geometric designs. At Thursday’s all-school assembly, however, we were treated to a beautiful rangoli created by parent and early childhood assistant Sweta Jaganath. This example was made using the traditional method and materials. She surrounded the colorful design with many candles, representing the diyas, or lamps, used in India. During assembly we also heard the story of Rama and the demon king Ravana. This important story forms the heart of the Ramayana, India’s cultural treasure of an epic poem. It also forms the heart of Diwali, for when Rama destroys Ravana—and good prevails over evil—Rama returns home to find a joyous welcome created by thousands of lit diyas and many decorations to celebrate his return. Students finished the morning by working together to craft their Martinmas lanterns for Friday’s lantern walk. These overlapping festivals, both celebrating our own light in the darkness, prepared us well for the beauty of the season ahead.
Inspiring Life-long Learning for 25 Years