Diwali Crafts

Celebrated by Hindu's throughout most of India and in Indian communities around the world, Diwali begins in the lunar month of Kartika.

The following are two crafts that can be made to celebrate Diwali:

Diya Craft

Diyas are lanterns and candles which burn brightly in and around homes, welcoming in Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

Materials:

• Crayola Model Magic
• Votive candle
• Glass votive holder

First, have children make a base for their diya by rolling out a flat "pancake" of Model Magic (or other self-hardening clay). The circle should be about 2" wider than your votive holder and about 1" thick.

Next, roll a piece of Model Magic into a ball.

Have children stick their thumbs into the centre, carefully pinching the sides to make a hollow bowl.

Use the bottom of the glass votive holder to further shape the bowl.

The votive holder should fit snugly into the Model Magic and be covered about halfway up.

Remove the votive holder and attach the votive holder to the base.

Decorate the diya with more Model Magic.

Let dry.

When dry, insert the votive holder into the diya.

Now, insert candle into the holder and light it.

Rangoli Craft

A Rangoli is a colourful, symmetrical design placed at the entrance of the house during Diwali to welcome guests.

Materials:

• Cardboard
• Black marker
• Food colouring
• Rangoli pattern
• Sand
• Glue

Go online and help your child find a Rangoli pattern that interests them or have them make their own symmetrical design.

Print out the pattern and trace it onto cardboard, using a black marker.

Now dye the sand by mixing it with food colouring, making as many different colours as your child wants (mixing food colouring will create a host of other colours).

Let the dyed sand dry completely.

Spread glue onto the Rangoli, section by section and have children carefully sprinkle the coloured sand within the Rangoli pattern.

When the Rangoli is finished, let it dry thoroughly and then hang it on your child's bedroom door.

By Rochelle Strauss