On Friday 7 March, Rev Child addressed pupils on the importance of celebrating the various faiths in our community.

Last Friday was the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic month that focuses on prayer, fasting and devotion which continues until the end of March. 

Wednesday this week was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, which also involves prayer, fasting, giving up bad habits and getting into good ones. Lent lasts all the way until Easter Day on the 20th April. 

Next Friday will be the Hindu festival of Holi, which celebrates life, colour and everything that comes with Spring. 

This seemed like a good point of term to hear from some different members of our school community about what this season of the year means to them, and what it feels like to be following one of these religious paths. 

So I’ve asked some pupils with these faith backgrounds to share a few thoughts with us this morning. Do take this opportunity to try and understand a bit more about a way of living and thinking that may be different to your own. 

This is an important thing we can do in a school of different people: we can learn what the world looks like from a different point of view. 

When in time you move on from the community of Cathedral Close into the wider world, you will need to understand people of various faiths and traditions, whatever your own beliefs happen to be. 

And if you get the opportunity, why not follow up things that you hear this morning with a further conversation or a bit more learning. 

So we’re going to hear from 

• Richa and Kirti, who are going to tell us about Holi and Hinduism; 
• Jonathan, who is going to talk about Lent and his Christian faith; 
• and from some Muslim pupils, who have worked together on some thoughts about Islam and Ramadan. 

Richa; 

"Good morning, my name is Richa Suhas and I have been a Hindu my whole life. At this time of year, Hindus celebrate Holi, the festival of spring, colour and love as well as being a festival that celebrates good over evil. Holi is celebrated by throwing coloured powders, dancing and lighting bonfires as well as eating festive foods. This year, Holi is on the 13th and 14th of March. Holi dates back to the 4th century and is always celebrated on a full moon day during spring. It marks the start of spring and the harvest season."

Kirti; 

"Good morning, my name is Kirti Suhas and I’m in U5, and have been a Hindu for my whole life. On the 14th of march Hindus celebrate Holi, the festival of colours, love and spring. Holi is an important festival as it celebrates love and the triumph of good over evil. Hindus celebrate Holi by throwing  coloured powders as a way of breaking down social barriers and bringing people of all ages together, and in some cities in India there are processions and musical shows that can last up to two weeks. One thing you might not know about Holi is that no one knows how it originated- it isn’t based around one story, and that there are many stories that explain the origins of the story of Holi. "

Jonathan;

"Good morning. My name is Jonathan, I am in U6 and I have followed Christianity for around a year now and it has completely changed my life. The most significant change is having a God who loves and cares about me to look to in difficult times. 

At this time of the year Christians are thinking about Lent which is the period of 40 days where Christians tend to devote themselves to prayer, fasting and reading the word of God. This is an opportunity for us to focus our minds on Christ and be conformed to his image. 

My own experience of this has been abstaining from food until the evenings on weekends and I find that this has helped me to humble myself before God and become more dependent on him. "

I’m going to read this on behalf of some of our Muslim pupils; 

"At this time of year, Muslims are thinking about faith, self-discipline, and gratitude. Ramadan is one of the holiest months in Islam, a time when we fast from dawn until sunset. But it’s not just about avoiding food and drink—it’s about much more. Ramadan is about strengthening our connection with God, developing patience, and remembering those who are less fortunate. 

My own experience of this has been both challenging and rewarding. Waking up before sunrise to eat, then going through the school day without food or water, can be tough, especially when you’re surrounded by others who aren’t fasting. But there’s also something really special about it—knowing that millions of people around the world are going through and that you’re doing it for the love of your faith." 

A big thank you to those pupils for helping us to understand why this season is important to them. I think you can see that these are quite personal things to share; I’m grateful to them for showing us a little of what it means to be faithful and devoted in these different traditions.