R.E.

Curriculum

DIWALI ASSEMBLY SCRIPT

The following script can be used in a Diwali assembly celebration. It was designed for
Year 5 children to perform in front of children aged between 3 and 11.
Narrator 1: Welcome to our assembly. Recently the Hindu community celebrated a
special religious festival called Diwali. The religion Hinduism is one of the worlds oldest
religions. People who follow the religion are called Hindus. Hinduism began in India many
centuries ago.
Narrator 2: Like other religions Hindus have special festivals during the year. Diwali is
one of the best-known Hindu festivals. It is a New Year festival and takes place in the
autumn around October and November. The festival has different parts to it. As a New
Year Festival it is about new beginnings.
Narrator 3: (group of children decorate pretend house; use tinsel etc) Before the festival
day the house is cleaned from top to bottom. It is then decorated with different coloured
glitter and tinsel. Little clay lamps called divas are lit and placed in the windows and
outside the front door. This is to attract the attention of Lakshmi and to welcome her to the
house (show picture of Lakshmi). Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth and all Hindus
hope she will visit their homes and bless them with a prosperous new year. (Light up
divas for 4 children, play euphoric music and 4 children walk round hall.)
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A play: The missing Diwali Tinsel
Dad: (needs tinsel attached to bottom!!) Come on you two hurry up with that cleaning, get
that dustpan and brush moving. If you dont hurry up your mum will be back soon and you
know how she wants everything clean.
Son: But dad why does everything have to be so clean? Have we got the queen coming
round tomorrow for jelly and ice cream?
Daughter: No silly Billy its November and its that special time of the year called Diwali
We have to decorate the house with tinsel and glittering objects to celebrate.
Son: Dad I know I might sound a little silly, but why are these little lamps called
BEAVERS? I dont know why they are called after furry animals that live in America.
Dad: Oh dear how silly you are. They are called Divas; look I will spell it for you, here
D.I.V.A.S. Now do you get it? (Son nods) just aswell I am not silly like you. Well lets carry
on now. Right, where is that green tinsel I need for the mantelpiece? Can you see it
children?
Son: Er, well I thought I saw it on that chair over there. Er, but its not there now.

Daughter: Yes, I thought I saw it there too. The mice must have eaten it! (Mum enters)
Mother: My word you three have been busy sorting out the house for Diwali Hmm floor
looks tidy. Mantelpiece is a bit drab though, where is that tinsel we left in the chair?
(Looks at dad) Er, what is that on your bottom father?
Dad: Oh whoops, its the tinsel. It must have stuck to the seat of my trousers when I was
having a sleep.
Son: Oh I see now who is a silly Billy; its not just me after all (all laugh!!)
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Narrator 4: Diwali is also a time for people to pay off their debts and sort out everything to
do with money and business. Diwali cards like Christmas cards are sent to both friends
and relatives (show cards). Diwali is a time of decoration as mentioned earlier. Children
and adults create special designs called Rangoli and mendhi patterns. We have designed
some of our own patterns for you to see (show patterns).
Narrator 5: These patterns are a way of welcoming visitors. A pattern may be geometric
or in the form of a fruit, flower, tree or religious Hindu figure. If the rangoli patterns are
beautiful then perhaps even Lakshmi will visit! Rangoli patterns can be made with
coloured rice or with different coloured sands or powders. At Diwali Hindus may also
decorate their hands and feet with mendhi patterns, again these are to make people look
beautiful. These patterns are painted with a brown dye called henna. Henna lasts for
several days on the skin. These patterns are also used at Hindu and Muslim weddings.
Narrator 6: During the festival of Diwali the sharing of food is especially important. When
people go and visit family and friends they often take a tray of sweets with them. (Family
exchanges sweets) Sometimes, when Hindus return home they have more of these
sweets on the tray than they had at the start of their visits! One of the most popular
sweets that are eaten at this time of the year is barfi. Barfi is like sweet fudge made from
evaporated milk, ground up coconut and golden granulated sugar. Dance and music
feature a great deal in Diwali celebrations. Here are some girls performing a traditional
Diwali dance. (Perform dance to music if possible may need input from local
community!)
The Story of Rama and Sita
(The pictures referred to can be drawn by the children or you can send for them from Dovelands Primary School Leicester. There will
be a basic charge to cover printing and postage.)

Narrator: 7 One of the major features of Diwali is the famous story of Prince Rama and
his wife Sita. The story comes from a book called the Ramayana, and is popular among
Hindus everywhere. An important part of Diwali is the telling of the story through dance or
pictures. Look at our pictures as we tell you the story of Rama and Sita
Picture 1: This is the story of Diwali The story comes from India and happened many
years ago. This picture shows Rama. He was a handsome prince. His father was a
wealthy king in India. One day Rama decided to go and visit a very attractive princess.

Picture 2: The princesses name was Sita and she was very pretty. Rama liked Sita a
great deal and wanted to marry Sita. Sitas father said to Rama that he could marry his
daughter but he had to do something rather special. Sitas father asked Rama if he was
strong enough to use a very heavy bow that no one else had used.
Picture 3: Rama replied, " Of course I am strong I can manage the bow without any
problem." He picked up the heavy bow and pulled the string. The bow broke into tiny
pieces. Sitas father said, " Rama, you are strong and therefore you can marry my
daughter Sita. " So Rama and Sita were married. Rama took Sita back home to meet his
father. Ramas father was becoming a very old king. One day the King said to Rama, " My
son I am becoming too old to rule this land I want you to become the new king. " The
queen however was not keen on the idea and wanted Ramas brother called Prince
Bharat to be the new king. She asked the king to send Rama away.
Picture 4: The king not wanting to upset his wife the queen had to make a sad decision.
He summoned Rama and told him that he must leave the kingdom. He told Rama that he
was not to come back to the palace for 14 years.
Picture 5: Both Rama and Sita went away and one of Ramas brothers called Prince
Lakshman went with them too. Rama and Sita lived in the forest for a long time. Sadly
after a time the old king died.
Picture 6: After the kings death the queen said to Prince Bharat, " The old king is dead
now and Rama is not here therefore you can be the brand new king." Prince Bharat said,
" No!! My father wanted my brother Rama to be the new king, not me. I will go to the
forest and bring Rama and Sita back to the palace."
Picture 7: Prince Bharat went to the forest and he found Rama, Sita and Lakshman. The
prince said to Rama, " Rama our father is dead, please come back now and become the
new king as father requested." Rama replied, " No, I can not come back yet because I
promised our father that I would not come back for 14 years and I can not break my
promise. I will not come back yet. Prince Bharat said, " Please give me your golden
sandals Rama." Rama took off his sandals and gave them to his brother. Prince Bharat
took them back to the palace.
Picture 8: When he got back to the palace, Bharat put the golden sandals on the throne,
which is a special seat for the king. He said to all at the palace, " Rama is the new king
not I. He will come back one day. In the meantime I will care for you all until Rama returns
from the forest. However I will not sit on the throne. It is Ramas throne!! "
Picture 9: Meanwhile back in the forest a rather evil, nasty demon was watching Sita.
This nasty demon was called Ravana; he had 10 arms and 10 heads. He wanted Sita for
himself and wanted her in his castle. Ravana watched and waited in the forest until Rama
and Lakshman went hunting for food. This meant that the pretty Sita was on her own.
Picture 10: Whilst the two young men were away Ravana caught Sita. She was very
scared and frightened. Ravana took her to an Island far away.
Picture 11: Ravana placed Sita in his castle, which was on an island. She was locked
away in a dark horrible room. Ravana asked Sita to marry him but Sita said, " NO!! " She

was a prisoner in the castle for a long time. Rama and Lakshman stopped hunting for
food and were concerned that they could not find Sita. They looked all over the forest but
she had vanished.
Picture 12: Whilst Rama was trying to find Sita in the forest a friend of his named
Hanuman came to see him. Hanuman was the king of the monkeys. Hanuman told Rama
that he had seen Sita locked away in the nasty Ravanas castle. Rama was very angry
and decided it was time to sort out the nasty demon.
Picture 13: Rama asked his friends if they would join him in fighting Ravana and help him
save his lovely Sita. His friends agreed to fight the demon Ravana. They all went to the
castle and there was a huge battle. Rama killed Ravana. Rama then went into the castle
and saved Sita. Both Rama and Sita were happy because they were together again at
last.
Picture 14: (last picture) Rama had been away for 14 years and now it was time to return
to his palace. They travelled the long distance on an elephant. When they reached their
palace it was very dark and there was no moon to light their way. To help Rama and Sita
all the people placed little lights outside their houses so that their new king and queen
could find their way. These little lights were called divas and that is why the story you
have heard is called Diwali
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Narrator 8: Everyone was happy because Rama had come home again. Now every year
Hindu and Sikh people remember the story of Rama and Sita and have little lights in their
houses and fireworks outside at Diwali time. As you know the lights are called Divas. We
now want to bring our assembly to an end and celebrate Diwali by giving all the children,
teachers and support staff some delicious Barfi. Thankyou for listening to us.
DSM Feb 2001