Celebrate Diwali

Deepam lightsDiwali is the Festival of Lights observed by several religions: Hindu, Sikh, Jain and some Buddhist countries. Diwali (or Deepavali) is on 12 November in 2023. SBS Learn provides resources for schools to celebrate the Festival of Lights and develop a greater understanding about the countries and cultures who celebrate this wonderful occasion! With step-by-step video instructions available in 7 languages other than English including Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayalam, Bangla, and Nepali.


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The Hindu Place of Worship

Hindu TempleA Hindu temple or mandir or devasthana (house of the god) is a symbolic house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together, using symbolism to express the ideas and beliefs of Hinduism. Hindus may have a small shrine in the home – which is the home temple – or they may visit a temple in their locality. All villages in India have at least one temple of worship. A temple may house shrines to many different gods.
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Learning from Home – Hinduism

Hindu Council of Australia

The Covid-19 crisis in the community has resulted in states closing schools and directing students to engage in learning from home. In this wise, and in face of a second-round of lockdown to Stage 3 in Victoria, we bring you resources for Hindu SRE – Learning from home.

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NSW: Hinduism Classes in State Schools

Hindu Council of Australia logoSpecial religious education (SRE) is education in the beliefs and practices of an approved religious persuasion. Under the NSW Education Act 1990, s. 32, government schools allow time for special religious education. It is delivered by authorised representatives of approved religious groups to students who have nominated that religion. The Hindu Council of Australia is approved to deliver SRE in State Schools.
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Hindu festivals resources

ISKCON in the United Kingdom provide educational services with School Visits, In-School presentations, Photos, Online Temple Creation and similar resources. On the website is a section called Festivals which gives an overview of many Hindu festivals. Among the festivals covered are Diwali, Navrathri, Ganesh Chaturti and Janmastami (birthday of Krishna). Other festivals included are Rathyatra (a chariot festival) Narasimha Chaturdasi (the festival of the half-god-half-lion), Ramanavami (the festival of Lord Rama) and Gaura Purnima, a festival of Lord Caitanya, an exalted devotee of Lord Krishna. The festivals section concludes with Holi and Maha Shivarathri (connected to Lord Shiva). Read more here: https://iskconeducationalservices.org/category/festivals/


 

Hinduism Resources

Ganesha in procession and traffic

On this page you will find resources related to Hinduism

Australian Material

Hindu Association of Western Australia: Culture and Religion Sheet (PDF)

Hinduism: Teacher’s notes and background information (Draft, DEET NSW; PDF File)

Humanities and Social Sciences / History / Year 7 / Historical Knowledge and Understanding / The Asian world / India: Australian Curriculum Site

Nataraja

Golden Nataraja, the Dancing God of Creation, Preservation, Destuction