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Year 6 - Religious education

The River Ganges: a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site

Pilgrimage: why are people still drawn to ancient places?

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils will revist the idea of pilgrimage. They will investigate case studies of the sites of Iona, the Ganges and Glastonbury. From this they will learn that there has been a Christian or Hindu presence there for centuries. They will note how there is both continuity and change.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe how many Hindus see the Ganges as sacred and explain why they may go on pilgrimage to Varanasi.

Key Notes

  • The Ganges is a major river in Northern India.
  • The story of Mother Ganga illustrates how the Ganges is regarded as sacred by most Hindus.
  • Hindus may make pilgrimage to the holy city of Varanasi by the River Ganges.
  • The River Ganges is an important site for death rituals in Hindu Dharma.
  • The River Ganges is currently very polluted and some Hindus are working to clean it up.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • pilgrim: a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons
  • dharma: acting with compassion for the good of humans and all living things
  • sacred: something that is considered holy, divine or deserving of great respect
  • moksha: freedom from samsara - the cycle of life

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The River Ganges is sacred because the water heals people.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

The Ganges is a major river in Northern India. The story of Mother Ganga illustrates how the Ganges is regarded as sacred by most Hindus.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'pilgrim'

a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: The River Ganges is sacred because the water heals people. Correction: The river is sacred to most Hindus because of its earthly manifestation of the goddess Ganga.

More Lessons In This Unit

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