Diwali celebrations at Windmill Hill

Festivities were well underway at Windmill Hill Day Nursery in Swindon as children and colleagues joined millions of people worldwide in celebrating the Sikh and Hindu festival of Diwali.

At the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Day Nursery on Windmill Hill Business Park, pre-schoolers showcased their creativity by making cards for their loved ones for the occasion, whilst learning all about the customs of the Festival of Lights and dancing to traditional music.

As part of the learning experience, children were delighted to make Indian Barfi sweets with the help of their nursery practitioners, working together to mix ingredients including milk, icing sugar and food colouring, before portioning the treats up to enjoy at home with family.

During the celebrations, pre-schoolers enjoyed trying on traditional garments bought in by staff member and resident expert, Jas Mander, who also provided homemade samosas for colleagues and shared her personal experiences and stories of the special religious period.

Windmill Hill Team Leader, Jas Mander explained;

“We have had a fantastic time celebrating Diwali and its been wonderful to share this part of my culture with the children and colleagues, who have really enjoyed learning more about the meaning behind the festival and tasting some of the foods traditionally eaten during this time. We mark a wide range of events throughout the year to give the group a broad understanding of the world and celebrate the rich diversity within our local community.”