Final Project on TET
Nepal is known as multicultural, multilingual, and
multiracial country. Nepalese people respect all religion festivals heartily.
Nepal is not only the land of mountains; it is also the land of festivals.
There are more than 50 festivals celebrated in Nepal every year. While the
national festivals have fixed dates, religious festivals are set by astrologers
following the lunar calendar. The best part about the festivals in Nepal is
that all the events are celebrated with the same enthusiasm and galore the way
it used to be hundreds of years ago when people had no other means of
entertainment. In this project work, I have tried to teach my students about
Nepali festivals and English festivals. Students learn about the different
Nepalese festivals, English Festivals and compare them too by watching film and
visiting the field. It is believed to be integrated four language skills, and
boost up some vocabulary related to festivals.
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Title
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Festivals
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By
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Mukti Prakash Thapaliya,
Balaju-16, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Class
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Grade: English Access Microsholarship Program, Nepal
Level: Beginner
Age: 14- 16 Years
old
Number: 25 students
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Target
Language
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Simple present, Present
Progressive, Present Perfect , Past tense , and Four language skills
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Content
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Film watching
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Note taking
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Looking at
pictures
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Field visit
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Discuss and
list out the festivals
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Designing
poster
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Making poster
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Writing a
report
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Photo copy
(About festivals)
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Objectives
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Tell about (how to festivals celebrations)
festivals
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Make a
poster (festival)
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Prepare
a report based on filed visit
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Materials
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Pictures
about festivals
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Film about
festivals (documentary)
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A4 size photo
copy papers,
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Char papers
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Sign pens
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Markers
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Colour boxes
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Scissors
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Cameras
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(Audio /video
recording devices)
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Reports
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Rulers,
pencils, cutter , erasers, tapes
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Procedures
Anticipation Phase (35 Min)
Pre-Project Work) Time :
(T/P/S)
Think /Pair/Share
Pens in the Middle
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Lesson 1
Time: 1Hour 55M.
Task 1 (20 Min)
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Shows
the pictures about different festivals
and ask related questions such as,
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Have
you ever attained any festivals? Where and when?
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What
kinds of festivals are celebrating in Nepal?
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Think
individually about it
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Share
in the pair
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Share in
the group
Task 2: 10 Minutes
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Make a
circle
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Ask
students make one question and ask his/her pair and vice versa
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Take
one information from his/her pair and give one to his/her pair
Task 3 : 15 Min.
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Forms five groups randomly according to Vowel
alphabets (A,E,I,O and U)
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Select
the group leader of each group
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Tells
students think sometimes (3 min.) about festivals
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Share
one information with the group by using “Pens in the Middle” technique
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Make a
list about the festivals and write in
their note copy too
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Presents
the group leader from each group
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(Note:
Small presentation takes only 2 min for one group)
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Building Knowledge Phase
(While the Project Work)
Time : 75 Min.
Gallery Walk and Gallery Sharing
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Task 1: 25 Min.
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Distribute photocopies which is related
about English and Nepali festivals (see in appendix)
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Read silently and familiar with
different festivals
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If they don’t get the main idea,
teacher will explain
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Defines
their duties and responsibilities
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Takes
them in the auditorium hall
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Watch a
documentary about Nepalese festivals and American festivals too
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Takes
their copy, pencils, eraser, etc
Task 2: 45 Min.
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Notes
some important things while watching film
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Watch
two films on their own and next American
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((Come
back to their own classroom) or sit on the auditorium hall))
Task 3: 30 Min.
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After
watching film : Gives chart papers,
colour sign pens, marker, pencils, erasers and so on
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Asks
them to make two posters based on the
documentaries for each group
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And
asks them to discuss in the group before giving the final touch on it
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Compare
and contrast between Nepalese festivals and American festivals too
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Paste
their work (posters) on the wall
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Other
groups visit and comment on it by using their own sign pens (If they do not
like it)
(Note: Each group is given their own corporate sign pen)
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Consolidation Phase
Post –Report/Poster writing
Time: 20 Min.
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Group
leader presents from the each group and other group give feedback
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Teacher
summarizes and gives feedback if necessary
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Lesson
Plan 2
Time
: 3 hours
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Task 1: 2hours
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Tells
their role, duties, responsibilities
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visit
Thamel (a place/ tourist destination in Nepal) - on the occasion of the new
year
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Take
their pen, note copy, eraser and so on
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Write
something if they think it is important
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Take
some photographs
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See the
festivals how English people celebrate in Nepal
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Record
some response from the tourists
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Talk
with them and share their own ideas
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Collect some posters
Task 2: 2 hours
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Return
to the school
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Teacher
distributes the sample reports
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Students
look it
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Teacher
gives mini-lecture on how to write a report
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Work in
the same groups
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Collect
the ideas from the group members
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Make
their own report which includes,
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Title of the
report
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Date
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Objectives
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Limitations of
the report
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Activities
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Findings and
conclusions
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After
making the report, students discuss on their work
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Group
leader presents report in front of the class and other groups comment on it
(If necessary teacher also gives feedback )
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Submit
to the teacher
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Appendix
Festivals in Nepal
Nepal is not only the land of mountains; it is also the land of festivals.
There are more than 50 festivals celebrated in Nepal every year. While the
national festivals have fixed dates, religious festivals are set by astrologers
following the lunar calendar. The best part about the festivals in Nepal is
that all the events are celebrated with the same enthusiasm and galore the way
it used to be hundreds of years ago when people had no other means of
entertainment.
New Year: It is known as “Navavarsha” in Nepal. Nepal has its
official calendar that begins from the first day of the first month Baisakh.
This very first day is observed as Nepali New Year which usually falls in the
second week of April. People go for picnics, have get-togethers and celebrate
the day socializing in various ways as this day is also a national holiday.
Lhosar (Tibetan New Year):
This is the New Year of the Tibetans and Sherpas of Nepal which falls in
February. The Buddhist monasteries in Kathmandu like Boudhanath and Swayambhunath
are decorated with eye catching colorful prayer flags pulling the crowd. The
people perform their traditional dances and welcome their New Year with feasts
and family gatherings wearing all the new clothes and finest jewelries and
exchanging gifts.
Saraswati Puja:
Saraswati Puja or Shree Panchami is a day to celebrate the birthday of
Saraswati – the Goddess of Learning. This is a day when people from school
students to scholars worship their pens and books to please the Goddess and
expect her favor in their studies so they become wise and knowledgeable. People
also throng around the idol of Goddess Saraswati, especially in Swayambhunath
and offer flowers, sweets, fruits, etc. On this day, small children are taught
to read and write and people write on the stones and slabs with chalks and
pencils. This day which falls between January/February is regarded as a very
auspicious day for marriages too as it is believed that Goddess Saraswati
herself blesses the couples. Normally it is the astrologers who fix the
marriage date and time in Nepal.
Shivaratri (Maha Shivaratri):
Shivaratri or the night of Lord Shiva that falls sometime between
February/March is one of the major festivals of Nepal. This day is dedicated to
the Lord of the Lords – Lord Shiva or Mahadev who lived in Mt. Kailash in the
Himalayas. Lord Shiva is the most worshipped God in the Hindu religion. More
than 100,000 of Hindu devotees from India and Southeast Asia throng weeks ahead
of the festival and gather in and around Pashupatinath temple – one of the
holiest shrines of the Hindus in Kathmandu to pay their homage to Lord Shiva on
his birthday. “Pashupatinath” literally means “the Lord of animals” as Lord
Shiva is considered as the guardian and protector of everything that exists in
the Himalayan Kingdom. On this holy day, worshippers take dip and bath in the
holy river at early dawn and fast for the whole day and stay around fire to
keep them warm as it is still winter in Nepal. The devotees also freely indulge
in using marijuana and other intoxicating substances as these things are
believed to please Lord Shiva and marijuana use is legal only on this sacred
day. More
...
Holi: This festival of water and colors
that falls between February/March is also known as “Phagu” in Nepal. This day
is observed to rejoice the extermination of female demon Holika who together
with her King brother conspired to kill his son Pralhad, an ardent devotee of
Lord Vishnu. This day, playful people especially the young ones wander through
the streets in groups on foot or vehicles with various colors smeared all over
them and the people in houses make merry throwing colors and water balloons at
each other and also to these people on the streets.
Ghode Jatra (Festival of Horses): This festival takes place between March/April and a grand
horse parade takes place at Tundikhel. Although this festival does not have
much of religious aspects, a large number of people, even from outside
Kathmandu flock around Kathmandu to witness the horse race and other exciting
sports activities performed by the Army in the presence of the King and the
Royal family.
Buddha Jayanti:
Buddha’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year during May in Nepal. On
this day people swarm in Swayambhunath and Boudhanath to pay homage to Lord
Buddha and also visit Buddha’s birth place in Lumbini and chant prayers and
burn butter lamps. Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautam but he
abandoned his luxurious life when he realized the misery of mankind and went in
search of enlightenment.
Gai Jatra (Cow Festival):
This festival of cow is celebrated every year in August/September. This is one
of the most popular festivals in Nepal as it is full of humor, satire, comedy,
mockery and shades of sadness too at the same time. And on this day satires and
jokes on anybody is legal. As per the tradition, the family who has lost a
relative during the past one year must take part in a procession by sending
young boys in cow like attire and walk through the streets of Kathmandu lead by
a cow. Cow is regarded as a Goddess and it is also the national animal of
Nepal. This festival also purges many who have lost their loved ones as they
get to console themselves as to they are not the only ones who have been
bereaved and it also teaches to accept death as a part of life.
Krishna Janmastami:
The birth anniversary of Lord Sri Krishna, believed to be the 8th incarnation
of Lord Vishnu falls sometime in August/September. All the devotees assemble in
Krishna Mandir, the ancient Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square and other
temples with the idol of Sri Krishna and offer prayers, flowers, food, sweets
and chant hymns too.
Teej: This is a Hindu married woman’s day for her man. This
festival is celebrated in August/September. Women clad in beautiful red saris
with shining potes (glass beads), singing and dancing is the sight almost
everywhere in Nepal during the festival of Teej. On this day women observe a
fast and pray Lord Shiva for the long, healthy and prosperous life of their
husbands and their families. The unmarried women also observe this festival
with unabated zeal with the hope that they will get to marry good husbands.
From early dawn, women queue up in the multiple lines in Pashupatinath to offer
their prayers to Lord Shiva.
Indra Jatra: This
festival named after Lord Indra- the God of Rain and also the King of Heaven is
celebrated by both the Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal in August/September. This
festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing. The
chariot of Kumari – the Living Goddess is taken through the main streets of
Kathmandu with much fanfare. On the first day, the King of Nepal also pays
homage to Goddess Kumari. The crowd of excited people from performers to
spectators engulfs the streets of Kathmandu during this festival. People get to
enjoy various classical dances like elephant dance, lakhe – a very popular
dance of a man with a mask.
Tihar: This festival of lights that falls between October/November
is the second biggest festival after Dashain. This festival lasts for five days
and people worship Laxmi – the Goddess of Wealth. All the houses are cleaned
and decorated with the belief that Goddess Laxmi will enter the house that is
the cleanest and people lit candles, oil lamps and other lights and the whole
place looks illuminating. During the five days, crows, dogs and cows are
worshipped and honored with vermilion, garland and delicious food for what they
have done in the lives of humans. Crows are regarded as the messenger that
brought news even during the times when there were no postmen and no postal
services. Dogs are the most obedient animals and they guard our house as true
guardians. Cow is also a symbol of wealth in Hinduism and she is also the
national animal of Nepal. During Tihar, the Newari community in Nepal also
observes Mha puja – a ritual of worshipping one’s own body and life. On this
very day, the Newari New Year which is also known as Nepal Sambat begins. The
festival ends with Bhai Tika – brothers’ day when his sisters worship him for
his long and healthy life to safeguard the lives of his sisters. This is also a
gambling time in Nepal as gambling is not illegal during this festival.
Dashain (Bijaya Dashami): During the
month of Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge
in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the
most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by
Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of
celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the
full moon. Thorough out the kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga in all her
manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and
thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the
goddess for days in blood. Read more about Dashain festival...
1. English festivals
Christmas
seems to be the most important English festival of the year. On the Sunday
before Christmas many churches hold a carol service. Houses tend to be decorated;
in the corner of the living room the English have usually their Christmas tree.
One of the most important traditions connected with Christmas is giving
presents. Gifts are wrapped up; children leave a long sock at the end of their
bed on Christmas Eve, hoping that Father Christmas will bring them some
presents. On Christmas Day (25th December) an English family has
also special food.
26th
December is also a public holiday; it is the time to visit friends and
relatives.
At midnight
on 31st December people celebrate the coming of the new year by
singing songs (Auld Lang Syne,
which means “in memory of past time”) and by dancing.
St
Valentine’s Day is on 14th February and many people send a card,
flowers or chocolates to the one they love.
It
is the day in February when the Christian period of Lent begins although not
many people actually give up eating during this period.
It
is the day before Ash Wednesday, people eat lots of pancakes.
At
Easter time the English celebrate the idea of new birth by giving each other
chocolate Easter eggs which are opened and eaten on Easter Sunday. On Good
Friday bakers sell hot cross-buns. Easter Monday is a holiday and many people
travel to the seaside.
April
begins with a day of fun and jokes.
23rd
April is the England’s
national day. St. George is a patron of England. His
emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England. For
most people this is just an ordinary day and they do not celebrate it.
A
celebration of the end of the winter, it is connected with dancing.
This
day marks the last appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection
at Easter. It is the 40th day after Easter Sunday.
It
is 10 days after Ascension Day; it celebrates the coming of Holy Spirit.
Thanksgiving
ceremonies and celebrations for a successful harvest are very famous and
ancient. People celebrate it by singing, praying and decorating churches with
baskets of fruit and food. It is usually in September.
On
31st October the English celebrate Halloween, which means “holly
evening”. It is one of the oldest celebrations of the world. It is connected
with witches and ghosts, people dress up in strange costumes. Children knock on
doors and ask for a treat. Pumpkin lantern is one of the famous traditions of
this festival. Halloween is followed by All Saints Day (1st
November) and All Souls Day (2nd November).
- Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night)
Every
year on 5th November, the anniversary of the Gunpowder plot, Guy Fawkes is remembered. Throughout
England, towns and villages light huge fireworks, burn an effigy (made of straw
and old clothes) and celebrate the fact the Parliament and James I were not
blown sky by Guy Fawkes.
Thanksgiving
Day
In the USA one of the most
important festivals is Thanksgiving. This is a celebration of the
first harvest of the English settlers in America nearly 400 years ago.
The first puritan settlers were known as the Pilgrim
Fathers and they are honored as the founders of their nation.
The festival is celebrated by many families attending
church. They bring gifts to share with those less fortunate to have a special
meal. They eat turkey, sweet potato, sweet corn, cranberry sauce, followed by
sweet pumpkin pie for dessert.
This festival is honored on the fourth Thursday in
November.
The history of the first thanksgiving was that in 1620 a
group of Dutch and English families sailed on the Mayflower from
a place known as Plymouth. The reason why they were leaving was they wanted to
be free to worship their own god and not the faith of the Church of England.
The journey was known as a pilgrimage so this was the reason why they were
known as the Pilgrim Fathers.
They were to set sail for the east-coast of America but
ran into trouble instead landing on the Massachusetts coast.
Here they were forced to build shelters in spite of the
fact that it was the middle of winter. The Indians who had been living in this
part of the country tried to help them. Things did not go well as many of them
died from diseases and the cold. In spite of this all, they fought on.
When spring came they were able to start sowing their
crops which were believed to be wheat, rye, oats, beans, carrots and onions.
The Indians also had their own crops which the Pilgrim Fathers had never seen
the likes of before. There crops were maize which the settlers called Indian
corn and potatoes. They also had good fishing as well as other meat such as
deer and bison. There were also birds known as a turkey.
There was plenty of food for supplies for the next winter
and most of all plenty of seed for sowing the crops. Because they were very
religious they set aside a day to thank God for their good harvest. After they
thanked God they cooked a special meal. They invited the Indians who had helped
them to join in their feast.
– cited from
www.englishfativals.com
References
www:nepalesefeativals.com.np
Mukti Prakash Thapaliya
Balaju-16, Kathmandu
Nepal
