School Visits

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Temple School Visits

We cater to all age groups, from pre-school to post-16; our aim is that your students learn from your school visit to our Hindu temple.

We aim to provide learning resources that are authentic, exciting and accessible. Our approach is learning-centered, favouring experiential and interactive learning.

Staff are experienced in all aspects of Hinduism and knowledgeable of a broad range of traditions. They are seasoned practitioners and also trained in educational theory and practice.

We offer three types of visits to our Temple:

Basic visit

It lasts 2 hours and includes:

  • Interactive Presentation by professional speaker and group role play.
  • See the shrine with explanation
  • Visit to our Cow Protection center

Half day visit

It lasts 3 hours, usually from 9:30am to 12:30

  • Interactive Presentation by professional speaker and group role play.
  • Cart ride pulled by oxen and tour of grounds
  • See the shrine with explanation
  • Visit to our Shop Bazaar
  • Choose from: Dressing-up in traditional dress, Traditional Face Painting, Story time or Questions and Answers

All-day visit

It lasts 4 ½ hours, usually from 10am to 2:30pm and includes lunchparade-of-gods-and-goddesses-at-hindu-mandir

  • Interactive Presentation by professional speaker and group role play
  • Cart ride pulled by oxen and tour of grounds
  • Freshly prepared hot vegetarian feast
  • See the shrine with explanation
  • Visit to our Shop Bazaar
  • Dressing-up in traditional dress
  • Choose from: Traditional Face Painting, Story time or Questions and Answers

Book online HERE or call us on 01923 859578

More details about our activities

Interactive Presentation

  • Since 1990, we have made over hundred-thousand presentations.
  • IES staff are experienced in making presentations on all aspects of Hinduism,
    embracing a broad range of traditions.
  • We value interactive, experiential and ‘whole-person’ learning.
  • We cater to a wide range of preferred learning styles
  • Staff members are specifically trained in educational theory and practice.

Workshops

We offer a broad range of learning sessions, including:

  1. Dressing up in traditional Indian clothes
  2. Dressing up as the Trimurti (thee main deities) and their respective consorts
  3. Face painting, with inclusion of Hindu/Indian motifs
  4. Role play & simulated Hindu ceremonies (e.g. weddings)

Please note: IES organises workshops and learning sessions to suit your school’s specific needs. Please do get in touch if you’d like to discuss them further.

Temple Tours

We split each larger school party into smaller groups to ensure that each tour is fun, engaging and informative.

  • Riding the bullock cart
  • Visiting the newly-constructed cowshed, at the heart of the ‘Cow Protection Centre’ in Watford
  • Seeing the sacred Tulasi plant in specially constructed greenhouses
  • Visiting the George Harrison memorial gardens

Viewing the Shrine
IMG_9104

Within Hindu traditions, the temple is the home of God, one of his forms or a specific deity. The very centre of the temple is the shrine itself. Here the sacred images are bathed, dressed and offered food daily, usually beginning at around 4am. School groups can usually experience an appropriate portion of the midday ceremony. This opportunity may include:

  • Exploring the significance of deity-worship
  • Attending part of the arati ritual, in which the priest offers incense, lamps and water
    to the temple deities.
  • Seeing Hindus at worship as part of their daily routine.
  • Hearing live music
  • Taking stunning photos of the beautiful shrine

Shop

A temple visit often concludes with opportunity to see the IES shop, and to consolidate the experience by buying souvenirs and educational materials.

Resources are authentic, reasonably priced and consistent with the ideals of ethical trade and local, sustainable economics. Carefully selected and inexpensive items are available for children of all ages.

Favourite items include bindi, face paints, Indian jewellery, ornamental elephants incense & holders and educational photo-cards.

Please note: A range of Hindu artefacts and quality books are also available for inspection and purchase by teachers.

Lunch

Most IES centres offer full traditional lunch (strictly vegetarian). This is not only a key experience but also allows the visit to continue into the early afternoon (usually until about 2.30-2.45 pm).

To meets everyone’s needs, the menu includes not only authentic Indian cuisine but also some ‘more familiar’ dishes. This encourages exploration of different tastes and simultaneously ensures that no-one goes hungry.

A typical meal consists of:

– Pea and cheese curry (a mildly-spiced vegetable preparation)school-lunch-at-hindu-temple
– Fluffy Basmati rice
– Chips
– A light, Indian savoury
– Puris (traditional bread)
– Apple juice

Please note:

We allow packed lunches for religious or medical reasons only.

Important note: As non vegetarian food is prohibited from temple property, to maintain the sanctity of our temple, pack lunches must exclude meat, fish, chicken and eggs, onion and garlic or their derivatives such as in cakes and jellies.

Book online HERE or call us on 01923 859578