(r'^$', index),

from django.views.generic.simple import direct_to_template
urlpatterns += patterns("",
    (r"^$", direct_to_template, {"template": "index.html"})
)

from django.conf.urls import url
from django.contrib import admin
from django.views.generic.base import TemplateView

urlpatterns = [
    url(r'^admin/', admin.site.urls),
    # the regex ^$ matches empty
    url(r'^$', TemplateView.as_view(template_name='static_pages/index.html'),
        name='home'),
]

# in your urls.py ...
...
url(r'^faq/$',
    'django.views.generic.simple.direct_to_template',
    { 'template': 'faq.html' }, name='faq'),
...

from django.urls import re_path
from . import views

urlpatterns = [
    re_path(r'^$', views.index, name='index')
]

def index(req):
    return render(req, 'myApp/index.html')