The celebration of festivals is established practice in nurseries. However, a limited number are widely celebrated. Among the alternatives worth considering is Vaisakhi (or Basakhi) on 13 April, especially if you live in one of those cities where there are public processions that the children may have seen.
Vaisakhi is celebrated in three religions. Originally a harvest festival in the Punjab, it is celebrated as such in Hinduism. It is also significant for Buddhists. Above all, it is a major festival for Sikhs since it was during Vaisakhi in 1699 that the foundations were laid for much of the structure of their religion. The colourful processions of Sikhs celebrating the event are the most public expression of their values in those cities where they have settled in large numbers.
Among possible activities around Vaisakhi are:
* preparation of dishes connected with the harvest festival. For recipes, see www.festivals.iloveindia.com/ baisakhi
* Activities with banghra music. Originally a folk dance associated with the harvest, banghra has developed into a form of pop music in India and the west. Compilations are on sale in major record shops.
* Learning to tie a turban in the Sikh fashion.
* Learning about the other distinctive emblems of Sikhism. Your LEA adviser on religious affairs or your local Development Education Centre may have collections of artefacts to loan with explanatory notes.
* Talking about Vaisakhi processions. An internet search will produce collections of pictures to download.
Useful books for children include I Am a Sikh (Franklin Watts, 2001) and Sikh Stories by Anita Ganeri (Evans Books, 2001). A broader picture is offered in a chapter of Religions of the World by Breuilly, O'Brien and Palmer (Hodder Wayland, 1997).
