Year 8 Field Day – The Magic of India

Year 8 pupils have recently taken part in a rich programme of activities for Field Day, each one centred around the vast and vibrant culture of India. The purpose of the day was to develop their understanding of certain customs, festivals and leisure activities, all of which originate in Indian society and the spiritual nature of its philosophy and religion. In the same way pupils learn about other civilizations and faiths through their curriculum subjects, today provided an opportunity to build on their deep cultural awareness through exposure to other communities within our increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

The theme for today’s carousel springs from the Holi Festival, which this year will be marked on Monday 25th March. This Hindu celebration is a festival of colours, love, and spring, and champions the triumph of good over evil. Today pupils have experienced a series of workshops to celebrate India’s rich cultural heritage, including Bollywood dancing, Diya lamp painting, and a workshop on Holi. Pupils have enjoyed an Indian-inspired lunchtime menu, as well as a Hindi playlist to expose them to the exotic world of Indian pop music. We even managed to squeeze in some enrichment after lunch, with a fascinating talk, ‘The Making of India’, delivered by our very own Senior Deputy Head, Mr Skinnard.

In the afternoon, pupils were entertained by the British Asian sports comedy-drama, ‘Bend it like Beckham’, which, despite its 2002 release, felt just as important and inspiring today as it did then.