Keystage 2 - Celebrations - Life events

Hindus have sixteen main celebrations during their life. They call these the Samskaras. They start before birth and end with death and the funeral service. In this activity you will look at the Samskaras and choose special plants from the website which could be used for them. You will also look at British celebrations, and even make up some of your own.
  

Webquest

In the chart below are eight of the sixteen Hindu Samskaras. Your task is to choose a plant from the website for each of the Samskaras below. There are 25 plants to choose from. Two have already been chosen for you but you can choose your own for the others. Think about what the plants look like as well as what they might mean.
Name of Samskara When it takes place Plant
Jatakarma When you are born
Namakarana When you are given your name For more information have a look at the birth page
Annaprashana The first time you eat cereal, at about six months old RICE
For more information see the birth page
Chudakarma When your hair is cut for the first time
Upanayana When you are given the Sacred Thread, aged about eight COTTON
For more information see the celebrations page
Vivaha Samskara When you get married
Grihasthashrama When you get your first house
Antyeshti At your funeral

See the Sacred Plants webquest activity for more ideas. Make a colourful poster of the Samskaras with your plants and add notes about why you chose them. Otherwise, give a talk about them, perhaps with two or more people describing the different Samskaras and the plants you've chosen.