He aha ‘Mana’
What does the word ‘mana’ mean to you and how is it shown in your actions, in your school, in your whanau, in your local, national and global community?
I feel that the word mana can't be translated into one word in the English dictionary. Mana means to me that people should be all treated the same. Mana is confidence to fight for your rights to challenge people,to find your belonging.
Diwali
Diwali is the festival of lights, usually lasting 5 days and celebrated by
millions of people around the world for New Years. It is also a festival
of a new beginning and the triumph of good over evil and light over
darkness.Diwali originated in India and is strongly linked to the Hindu
religion.
Day 1: Card games, gambling and purchasing gold and metals are common
for the first day.
Day 2: Known as Naraka Chaturdasi or Chhoti Diwali/ demon effigies are
burned in Goa.
Day 3: New Moon day; the most significant day of the festival in North
and West India.
Day 4: Meaning varies across India including the start of a new year
victory over Demon King Bali.
Day 5: Known as Bhai Duj; celebrates Sisterhood.
The festival is mainly about the renewal of life, and bringing light to replace
darkness. Like the chinese new year and diwali there are similarities. In the
Chinese New Year they exchange gifts, light candles and use firecrackers
and fireworks. This also happens in the Diwali festival. Diwali cultures also
celebrate by making rangoli patterns like these.
There are some people who make fun of other cultures. They mock the clothes,
accents, foods, jobs, festivals and achievements of those cultures. We think
mocking people's accents could be offensive to some people because they can't
help sounding like that .People who mock are probably not used to it and it is
something new to them.
