Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most celebrated and paramount holidays for the Hindu, Jain, Sikhs, and Buddhist communities around the world. During the five-day festival, people celebrate the victory of good over evil and light overcoming darkness. The festival represents prosperity, positivity, joy, and love.
Diwali is celebrated this year on November 1, 2024. People celebrate the festival by lighting diyas on their windowsills, decorating rangolis in the entrances of their homes, eating delicious food, and, most important, spending the holiday with loved ones.
Here is a roundup of Diwali crafts and books to help you celebrate Diwali with your family.
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Books About Diwali
Reading books about Diwali can teach your child about world cultures and holidays. If you are like me, an American Hindu mother, you are always searching for ways to teach your roots and culture to your children. Reading stories to your child is a simple way to spend quality time while celebrating the holiday. Below are some highly favored books on Diwali:
- Amma, Tell Me About Diwali by Bhakti Mathur
- Archie Celebrates Diwali by Mitali Banerjee Ruths
- Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel
- Let’s Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali by Anjanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar
- Let’s Celebrate Diwali by Anjali Joshi
- The Light Within You by Namita Moolani Mehra
- Lots of Lights by Kavita Sahai
- Rani Saves Diwali by Anita Badhwar
- Shubh Diwali by Chitra Soundar
- The Story of Diwali: Rama & Sita by Jay Anika
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Bangles Candle Holder
Make a delightful candle holder out of stacked bangles to light up Diwali night. This is an easy craft for teenagers and can be used as a Diwali gift for others. Materials needed are adhesive glue and your favorite set of bangles. Once your bangle holder is complete, you add a candle, and voila! You have a unique addition to your Diwali festivities.
Don’t have any bangles? Make this candle holder using a small glass jar and decorating it with colorful tissue paper. This one is great for toddlers.
Clay Diyas
My favorite childhood memory from Diwali was lighting the diyas at night with my family. So naturally, my favorite craft is making a diya with air-drying clay and washable colored paint. Take the clay and mold it around the bottom of a cup or small bowl. Embellish it with beads. When the clay dries, use a paint brush or dish sponge to paint your diya with a variety of bright colors. You can add glitter and stickers to your painted diya to make it pop! Here is a tutorial to guide you step by step.
Another diya craft for smaller children is to print this Diwali color page and have your child paint, color, cut, or bedazzle the coloring pages. You can also do this fun paper plate diya craft. When completed, tape them on your windowsill or put on your fridge.
Diwali Cards
Diwali cards are a popular way to show family and friends your love on this special holiday. Taking time to share a greeting card with others boosts happiness in the giver and receiver. There are so many variations of Diwali greeting cards to choose from that fit everyone’s budget and available materials. Here are instructions to make Diwali greeting cards for loved ones.
Do-It-Yourself Rangolis
Rangolis are beautiful art displays typically created on the floor in the entrance of a home. They represent positivity and are seen as a welcome for Mother Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck, to bless your home on this auspicious holiday. There are several ways to make rangolis depending on your child’s age and ability, as well as what craft materials you have available. The first step is to find a rangoli design you like online. Once you find a design, you can decide how you want to create it:
- Playdoh :: Create a rangoli design with different color clays.
- Sand :: Use colored sand and various techniques to make a rangoli design.
- Paper plate & construction paper :: Cut out shapes and designs to glue to a paper plate diya.
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Easy Paper Lanterns
You can celebrate Diwali by lighting up the night various ways. On Diwali, we light up paper lanterns. They symbolize love, light, and prosperity as well as welcome happiness into your life. They can be lit inside or outside of your home and are a fun craft you can do with older kids. All you need to make your own paper lanterns are construction paper, scissors, battery operated tea lights, glue, color markers, pencils, and paint. Here is an easy tutorial to make your own paper lanterns.
I hope you and your kids try one of these Diwali crafts and books to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights — the Hindu new year when we connect with and show extra love to the important people in our lives.
