Diwali celebrations at Devonshire

Festivities were well underway at Devonshire Day Nursery in Chiswick as children and colleagues joined millions of people worldwide in celebrating the festival of Diwali.

At the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Day Nursery on Bennett Street, colleagues and resident experts; Preeti Ghttora and Jayantha Tawcasious created a themed display within the reception area, filled with beautiful rangoli art and a wealth of information on the Festival of Lights to capture the interest of children and their families as they arrived and left each day.

Meanwhile, children and colleagues dressed in bright colours and cultural clothing to mark the occasion, whilst taking part in a series of inspired activities including making Indian sweets with semolina and raisins, listening to traditional music, exploring saari material, learning to make diya lamps and creating their own brightly coloured firework artwork.

Pre-schoolers also enjoyed a talk from members of the staff team who celebrate Diwali, where they shared the importance of the festival to different religions including Sikh and Hindu, traditional customs and the important message of good triumphing over and evil and light over dark, as well as discussing how the occasion is often celebrated with fireworks.

Colleagues were also delighted to try delicious homemade treats, created by talented Kitchen Assistant, Preeti Ghttora, which included samosas, pakoras and bandar laddu.

Devonshire Day Nursery Manager, Emmy Avery explained;

“We have had a fantastic time celebrating Diwali across the nursery and it’s always special to have the input of our practitioners, who really enrich the learning of our children with their own personal experiences and knowledge. Not only does this create some lovely memories, but promotes cultural appreciation and helps foster a sense of respect and understanding.”