Pupils from Peasedown St John Primary School took part in a special visit recently to Bristol Hindu Temple.
One of the few Hindu Temples in the whole of the southwest of England, the temple opened in 1981 and sees regular crowds of people flocking to visit from across the UK.
School Headteacher, Ruth Noall, said:
“Our Year 4 pupils had a wonderful and memorable visit to the Bristol Hindu Temple recently. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel extremely welcome. The priest was kind, friendly and happy to help us learn more about Hinduism, making the visit a very special experience for all of us.
The trip linked perfectly with our recent learning in Religious Education, where we studied Hinduism, its beliefs, values and ideas.â€
Hinduism is believed to be the oldest religion in the world, with historians and scholars tracing its roots back some 5,000 years. The tradition is incredibly diverse with a range of beliefs and practices. The religion’s principle textbooks are the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita.
Hinduism is currently the third biggest religion in the world with over 1 billion followers. Most are of Indian heritage, but the spiritual tradition has attracted a large number of Western converts over the last 60 years.
“Visiting and being in a temple helped to bring our classroom learning to life. We recognised many things we had already learned about, such as the shrine, the murtis (statues of the gods) and the importance of prayer and worship in daily life,†added Ruth, “It also supported our learning about British values, particularly tolerance and respect for people of different faiths and beliefs. We learned how important it is to understand and respect religions that may be different from our own.â€
Peasedown St John Primary School teaches a diverse and in-depth Religious Education (RE) curriculum which allows pupils to get the opportunity to learn about a range of religious traditions, ideas and practices.Â
For more information about Peasedown St John Primary School visit their website www.psjprimary.co.uk and follow them on Facebook at @psjprimary
