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What a Lot of Light!

Diwali is on Friday 1 November 2024

by Claire Law

Suitable for Key Stage 2

Aims

To consider the religious festival of Diwali and the symbolism of light in darkness.

Preparation and materials

  • You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (What a Lot of Light!) and the means to display them.

Assembly

  1. Tell the children that sometimes, when people want to speak out about something that they disagree with, they carry out a protest. Some of these protests appear on the news, receiving a lot of media attention. In the past year, there have been several protests that have escalated into rioting and violence.

  2. Show Slide 1.

    However, there have also been peaceful protests this year that have not received so much media attention. One example is the ‘Let There Be Light’ protest, a small-scale, peaceful protest that took place in Lowestoft earlier this year.

    Show Slides 2-3.

  3. These protesters were fed up with the amount of time it was taking to repair streetlights on a main road that ran through the town. Campaigners said that some of the lights had not worked for over two years, and called for urgent action before an accident happened.

    Frustrated with having to cycle or walk their dogs in the dark, local people gathered to protest, in the hope of encouraging the Highways Agency to make the much-needed repairs.

    Their protest paid off: the Highways Agency apologized, and promised to fix the lights over the summer.

  4. At this time of year, we become aware that the days are getting shorter. It seems like it gets dark almost as soon as the school day finishes.

    So, this makes it a good time to reflect on the theme of light in darkness.

  5. This year, Diwali, the festival of light, will be celebrated on 1 November. This five-day-long festival is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists. It takes place every autumn between October and November, with the date changing every year.

  6. Show Slide 4.

    The word ‘Diwali’ comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which means ‘rows of lighted lamps’. To celebrate Diwali, people illuminate their houses, shops and public places with small oil lamps called diyas. Diwali is also marked with fireworks.

  7. Diwali is a time to focus on the victory of light over darkness, of good over evil. It is a celebration that in times of darkness, we look for light – and often, when we search hard enough, there is light to be found.

    Sometimes, darkness is used as a metaphor for difficult situations. When we suffer, it can feel like a form of darkness. When we receive kindness and help from others, it can feel like a form of light in that darkness.

  8. Show Slides 5-6.

    After some of this year’s violent protests, people of different ages, faiths and races worked together to show that hatred would not have the final word. Everyone helped each other.

    We could say that, in the darkness, there was a glimmer of light, through local people showing kindness and giving help.

  9. The theme of light in darkness appears in the Christian tradition too. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers, ‘You are the light of the world.’ (Matthew 5.14)

    Show Slide 7.

    Jesus uses the image of darkness and light to encourage us to find ways to bring hope to situations that can feel hopeless.

Time for reflection

Let’s take a moment of quiet reflection to consider how we can be light in different situations.

- How could we be light in our school?

Pause to allow time for thought. You may wish to listen to some ideas.

- How could we be light in the places where we live?

Pause to allow time for thought. You may wish to listen to some ideas.

- How could we be light in our local community?

Pause to allow time for thought. You may wish to listen to some ideas.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for reminding us that even in the toughest times, there is often light to be found.
Thank you for the festival of Diwali, and the reminder of light in the darkness.
Please help us to be lights in the situations in which we find ourselves.
Please help us to bring hope, peace, kindness and love.
Help us to trust that even during darkness, the sun will shine again.
Amen.

Publication date: November 2024   (Vol.26 No.11)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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