A South Derbyshire primary school took time out of its normal timetable to help more than 100 pupils celebrate Diwali this month with a day of workshops including traditional Indian drumming.
Balwinder Singh came all the way from Manchester to teach more than 100 pupils at Sale & Davys CE Primary School in Barrow-upon-Trent – part of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust – how to play the traditional Dhol drums and bangra dance.
Each class at the school learned how to use the dhagga and tilli sticks to play rhythmically in unison.
Meanwhile, there was a day of Diwali-themed workshops taking place throughout the school with pupils having a go at making ‘laddoo’ sweets, decorating boxes, listening to Diwali-themed stories and making cards.
Head teacher Sarah Briggs said it was important to learn about different cultures and traditions.
She said: “This is a Church of England school and it’s very important to us that we celebrate all faiths and traditions. Here at Sale & Davys we have children from Muslim, Hindu and Sikh faiths as well as Christianity and we really like to celebrate those cultures from around the world.
“Everybody has been really enjoying the drumming workshops we’ve had here today, as well as the range of other activities we’ve been doing. The children have been brilliant in their enthusiasm, as they always are, and we’re very proud to have marked Diwali in this way. All the children will be taking home delicious laddoo sweets in beautifully decorated boxes they’ve made.”
The Diwali celebrations at Sale & Davys are just part of the school’s celebrations of other key dates in the world calendar, including Chinese New Year and Eid.
Balwinder Singh said he was glad to come to the school to demonstrate drumming as part of his work in many other schools.
Dr Sarah Clark, CEO of the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust, said: “It’s great to see Sale & Davys mark Diwali with a day of themed activities and a drumming workshop. It’s very important that as a faith-based multi academy trust we are diverse and inclusive in our approach to education, allowing children in our schools to experience a rich array of cultures, traditions and faiths.”
