Britain's first State-funded Hindu school opens its doors (From Asian Image)

Britain's first State-funded Hindu school opens its doors

2:58pm Monday 1st February 2010

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The first state-funded Hindu School in the Uk has opened it's doors.

The Krishna Avanti School is the first Voluntary Aided Hindu faith school in the country and is recognized as the most eco-friendly.

The School, in the London borough of Harrow is also Britain’s first vegetarian state school.

A white carved marble Temple is at the centre of the school building.

Every morning the children chant Sanskrit prayers in front of the deities of Krishna-Balaram and afterwards there are lessons that include meditation and yoga.

They study the national curriculum, but also tend the garden and learn concepts such as the equality of all living things. Multiculturalism forms an important part of the School’s philosophy, and they already have strong ties with other schools. The heart of the School’s ethos is harmony with the environment, which includes the building, landscape, curriculum and even school meals.

The School has a state-of-the-art building design with the highest aspirations for sustainability and conservation. It seeks to be an inspirational example of an educational environment for the future.

It has unique eco-systems including wildlife zones, vegetable, fruit and flower gardens and sedum roofs. The building structure has been built timber structure with timber cladding, rainwater harvesting and ground source heat pumps (which provide 70% of the school's heating).

Cllr David Ashton, Leader of Harrow Council, said, "We have been pleased to support the establishment of the country's first state funded Hindu primary school in Harrow, both at the planning stage and then by offering temporary classrooms for its pupils while this outstanding site was built.”

Parent, Mrs Negin Algani said, "Not only does the school provide an excellent education, but also a spiritual foundation. We like the teachers unique approach having a temple within the school itself is wonderful."

Mrs. Bhavisha Mehta, mother of Heeya Mehta, aged 3 added, " It is our first choice for our daughter to attend this school so she can be in association of other Hindu Vaisnavas and be learning our faith as well as keeping up with the national curriculum. Giving this foundation start from a young age, such as attending aarti, taking darshan, learning prayers, honouring prasadam, learning slokas and Krishna stories, is so important, this is the sort of nurturing I will be giving to my child at home”.

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