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Diwali is almost here and no matter your background, we believe it’s important for all children to know about the festivals around the world.
A great way to teach your little one about festivals and traditions is through crafts and other fun activities.
To inspire you, we’ve compiled some fun and easy activities as well as video and book resources to learn more.
But first what is Diwali?
Diwali is a five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world.
The festival, which coincides with the Hindu New Year, celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
Diwali coincides with the new moon in the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2022, this takes place on the 24th of October, but the celebrations begin on the 22nd of October and run till the 26th of October.
And now let’s jump into the activity guides!
Salt Dough Votive/Diwali Tea Light Holder
You will need:
Flour
Salt
Water
A tealight
Gems/beads/paint to decorate
Method:
Combine 1 cup of flour, half a cup of salt and half a cup of water.
Mix till it comes together to make a dough.
Roll into a ball and press in your tealight candle, making a little candle holder.
Decorate! Add in gems, beads and paint the dough.
Allow to dry for a few days. If you’re not adding beads, you can also set it in the oven (click here for the guide) but don’t decorate till it’s fully dry.
Coloured rice sensory activity
You will need:
1 cup of rice
½ tsp vinegar
Food colouring (various colours)
Method
Pour rice into containers – one for each colour.
Add several drops of food colouring to each container.
Drizzle the vinegar over the rice (to ensure the colour doesn’t rub off on hands).
Cover the container and shake or mix with a spoon.
And you’re done! Your little one can use this for sensory play or to make amazing Rangoli patterns.
DIY Diwali-inspired stamps
You will need:
Reused cardboard box
Hot glue gun
Marker or crayon
Scissors
Craft supplies – paper, paint etc.
Method:
Design your pattern on the cardboard using crayons or a marker.
Trace the design with a hot glue gun and allow it to cool.
Once cool cut out stamps to use for projects.
Now you can use these in stamping crafts, crayon rubbings and more!
Flower Rangoli
You will need:
Flower petals/leaves/herbs
Printed Rangoli design (optional)
Paper
Contact paper (optional)
Method:
Collect a variety of flower petals, leaves, and herbs!
You can either lay the petals/leaves/herbs on top of the printed Rangoli design or create your own pattern on plain paper! This is a great sensory activity, all whilst helping your little one work on their fine motor skills.
Optionally, cover the design in contact paper to make it into a keepsake.
Scratch-art Henna handprint
You will need:
White cardboard or card stock
Pencil and scissors
Crayons
Black tempera paint (powder or liquid)
Paintbrushes
Wooden skewers
Method:
Trace your handprint and cut it out on cardboard.
Decorate the handprint with crayons!
Prepare the black tempera paint (mix up if it’s a powder).
Brush a layer of the paint over the hand design.
And finally, decorate again! Use the skewers to draw patterns and decorate the hand cut-out. See the crayon colours emerge from the black paint.
Diya Lamps garland
You will need:
Paper or card
Paint/markers/crayons
Scissors
Glue
String or card (optional)
Method:
Cut half circles out of paper and decorate.
Colour one page yellow and cut it into little tear shapes.
Glue each tear shape onto the top of the half circles.
Optionally, paint smaller tear shapes inside the existing one in orange or red.
And your paper Diya Lamps are ready! Tape these along some string or to a circle outline cardboard cut-out to make a garland.
Resources