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������̳ Teach > School Radio > Assemblies and Collective Worship
KS1 audio: Something to Think About / KS2 audio: Together

Gemma finds out about Holi - the Hindu festival of colours

Before the programme

• What do you know about the Hindu festival of Holi? What does it celebrate?
• The story of Holika and Prahlad is a myth (or legend). What is a myth and why do we tell this type of story?
• In the story, good triumphs over evil. What are your favourite stories - or real life events - where this happens? The Harry Potter stories and the Star Wars films are good modern examples.

Story synopsis:

Once upon a time in India there was a wicked king who regarded himself as a god and who made all his people worship him. Even his son, Prahlad, regarded his father as a god. But one day Prahlad came across a woman, who was praying to the god Vishnu to save her kittens which had fallen inside a well. Prahlad was amazed when the kittens were saved and decided that he too would worship Lord Vishnu. When his father found out he was enraged by his son’s disobedience and set about trying to kill him. The king’s sister, Holika, was as evil as her brother and came up with a plan to get rid of Prahlad. But good will triumph over evil…

After the story:

• What kind of person was Prahlad and how did he differ from his father?
• What happened to persuade Prahlad to worship Lord Vishnu and convince him that his father was not a god?
• Can you remember how many ways the king tried to kill Prahlad and what happened each time?
• What was Holika’s plan to help rid her brother of Prahlad?
• How did Lord Vishnu save Prahlad from the flames?

Follow-up activities:

• Write your own dramatic myth story where eventually good triumphs over evil.
• Create an illustrated ‘Guide to Spring’ for younger children, showing them what to look out for as spring takes over from winter. You could mention the weather and the length of the days. You could also include festivals, holidays and sporting events that take place in Spring.
• Hindus celebrate Holi with fires to help them remember the story of Holika and Prahlad. Can you create a picture of a crackling glowing fire suggesting warmth and celebration? What materials will you use - black or dark blue paper for the background? How will you create the effect of flames - using tissue paper, shiny gold or silver paper, bright paint colours? You’ll need to think about creating the effect of sparks and perhaps some smoke too.