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Zoo News
Dusserha at the Zoo
Tuesday 29 September 2008
Edinburgh Zoo is welcoming 250 children from local schools to help celebrate the Hindu festival of Dusserha. The Education department of Edinburgh Zoo has invited school children to visit the Zoo to take part in a variety of related activities, including creating an Asiatic lion sculpture. When complete, this sculpture will take part in the Dusserha festival parade on 5 October. It will then be displayed permanently at the viewing area for the Zoo’s own family of Asiatic lions.
This is just one of a programme of events organised by the Scottish Indian Arts Forum to help celebrate Indian festivals. There is a natural connection with Indian culture and the Zoo, as the Hindu religion depicts many animals as gods. During their visit the children also hear the Dusserha story and teachers can use the visit to follow-up on activities about festivals, culture, beliefs, and of course wildlife and the environment.
Stephen Woollard, Education Manager at Edinburgh Zoo, said:
“Celebrating the Dusserha festival at the Zoo is a unique way of combining science, art, religion and culture, in one visit. We hope that through doing the activities children will gain some appreciation of the world around them and the influence of culture and beliefs upon people’s understanding of our world.”
Photocall Information
You are invited to attend a photocall on Tuesday 30 September at 11am to see 60 school children working on the lion sculpture.
Entrance to the Zoo is via the Members’ Gate at the north west side of the main visitors car park. Please make your way to the Mansion House to meet with Maxine Finlay.
Further Information
Please contact Maxine Finlay, Communications Officer 0131 314 0312
Editor's Notes
About the Dusserha Festival
- Dusserha is a festival celebrated across Nepal and India.
- It is celebrated on the tenth day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Ashwayuja or Ashwina, and is the grand culmination of the 10-day annual festival of Dasara or Navaratri.
- The legend underlying the celebration varies vastly by region; however, all festivities celebrate the victory of the forces of Good over Evil. It is also considered to be an auspicious day to begin new things in life.
- It is the largest festival of Nepal and celebrated by Hindu and non-Hindu.
- The festival parade takes place on 5 October.
- The Dusserha Festival is organised by the Scottish Indian Arts forum with support from City of Edinburgh Council, Awards for All and carnivalchaos productions.
About Education at Edinburgh Zoo
- The Education Centre at the Zoo opened in 1976 and has achieved success by not only focusing on educational activities in a classroom setting, but on making the most of the open, interactive and stimulating environment of the Zoo surroundings.
- The Zoo’s education programme focuses on the importance of living animals, and also includes topics on sustainability, conservation, zoology and other environmental issues.
- The Zoo also offers outreach programmes for children from schools in deprived areas, a Science Summer School for budding scientists and an autumn session focusing on sustainability.
- Edinburgh Zoo is owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, a registered charity, charity no SC004064.
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