Diwali for kids
Celebrate "Diwali" (Festival of Lights) with kids in America
What is "Diwali" and how can you celebrate with kids in America? Come late October or
early November, Hindus from Nepal, India and across the world celebrate Diwali, a
Festival of Lights. Everyone is lighting the way for the goddess of wealth and
prosperity.
To encourage her visit, Hindus light the way with rows of oil lamps called "divas,"
which they set out as the sun sets. The more candles, lamps and lights the easier it is
for the goddess to visit to bring her good fortune. For kids, Diwali brings a feast for
the eyes with fireworks and firecrackers, and for their tummies special sweets and
even new clothes. Good fortune indeed!
This five-day festival of lights welcomes in the lunar new year with various activities
where good triumphs over evil:
Wondering how you might celebrate Diwali with kids in America?
Welcome the goddess of prosperity into your home and celebrate cultural diversity in
America with your own version of Diwali. The festivities include sweets, firecrackers,
games and gifts.Here's are suggestion to celebrate Diwali and learn about the Hindu
traditions with kids:
Diwali Gifts
Want to invite the goddess Lakshmi into your home? Here are some fun ideas for gift
giving or for yourself:
Celebrate "Diwali" (Festival of Lights) with kids in America
What is "Diwali" and how can you celebrate with kids in America? Come late October or
early November, Hindus from Nepal, India and across the world celebrate Diwali, a
Festival of Lights. Everyone is lighting the way for the goddess of wealth and
prosperity.
To encourage her visit, Hindus light the way with rows of oil lamps called "divas,"
which they set out as the sun sets. The more candles, lamps and lights the easier it is
for the goddess to visit to bring her good fortune. For kids, Diwali brings a feast for
the eyes with fireworks and firecrackers, and for their tummies special sweets and
even new clothes. Good fortune indeed!
This five-day festival of lights welcomes in the lunar new year with various activities
where good triumphs over evil:
- Men make noise with firecrackers and fireworks to ward off evil.
- Everyone places Diwali clay lamps called "divas" inside windows and outside
doorways to entice the goddess of wealth, known as Lakshmi, to visit them
throughout the coming year. - Women dress in fancy saris, (left an American Doll wears a sari), and girls wear
a traditional dress, called "shalwar kameez." - People clean their homes and welcome guests.
- Friends and family feast on traditional vegetarian Diwali dishes, which may
include poori breads, channa (stewed and seasoned chick peas), samosas
(pastries stuffed with curried potatoes, onions and other spices), and a bevy of
sweets with coconut, and ground almonds. - Families have a special way of celebrating:
- Sisters cook for their brothers and attend to their needs; while Brothers
give their sisters presents. - Children honor their parents with a ceremony of bowing in respect. In
return, parents offer their children a blessing.
Wondering how you might celebrate Diwali with kids in America?
Welcome the goddess of prosperity into your home and celebrate cultural diversity in
America with your own version of Diwali. The festivities include sweets, firecrackers,
games and gifts.Here's are suggestion to celebrate Diwali and learn about the Hindu
traditions with kids:
- Read stories about Diwali: Storytelling is an important part of Diwali. Most
important is the story of Rama and Sita, which is basically a story about how
good wins over evil. If you are familiar with Diwali, then you might consider
reading with your child "The Story of Divaali,"right. ("Divaali is an alternate
spelling, less recognized.) This children's book is beautifully illustrated and
written, but it's not for those new to Diwali as it assumes prior knowledge. A
great read for everyone else is " Lighting a Lamp: A Diwali story," left, is an
ideal book to read.
- Color! Diwali is about bringing in the light and casting out darkness, so invite
kids to color Diwali images to help them gain an understanding for this festive
and very colorful holiday. Here are some wonderful Diwali coloring pages.
- Involve kids to spruce up your home:
- Everyone can participate in cleaning up, and putting toys away.
- Kids can also help you decorate your home in bright reds, greens and yellows
as the holiday is all about releasing darkness and gloominess. The aim is to
allow bright lights and with it prosperity for the coming year. - Get out the chalks! The Hindus decorate with Rangoli patterns, intricate
designs on the grounds outside their homes and temples, designed to entice
the goddess to give her blessings. The kids can make chalk designs to direct
the goddess of prosperity to enter the door of your home.
- Honor Hindu traditions: Sisters can help cook and attend to their brothers needs
(such as bringing them a drink). In a return of thanks, boys can present a small
gift to their sisters, such as a small sweet or toy to share. Traditional Diwali
games include dice and cards.
- Henna tattoos are a fun way to share in the culture. Crayola Quick and Easy Body
Art, left is a safe and easy way to apply fun henna desgins to hands, feet and
face.
- Talk about the New Year. Diwali for kids is an exciting time as everyone starts
anew. Kids can share their hopes for the coming year and wish everyone a
Happy Diwali!
Diwali Gifts
Want to invite the goddess Lakshmi into your home? Here are some fun ideas for gift
giving or for yourself:
- Diwali gift for a little girl: On Diwali everyone wears festive new clothes, and her
beloved Barbie should too. The collectors Diwali Barbie, left, features a beautiful
sari. Diwali Barbie makes a lovely gift. You might otherwise sew your own
sweet sari for a Barbie doll and use beads to create appropriate jewelry.
- Diwali gift for kids: Card games or dice games are traditional to play
- Diwali gift for a sister: The Lakshmi table top fountain, lower left, is wonderful
way to welcome the goddess into your home.
- Diwali gift for parents: Create a home temple with the Ganesha Gift PuJ Thaali,
right. The Puja Thaali is complete with a stick incense holder, diya holder,
kesar/rice tikka holder as well as a lidded sindoor holder. The Ganesh thaali
measures 9.5 inches in diameter.
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(C) Copyright 2009-2011 by M.C. Nygard. All rights reserved.
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See our other kids parties and pony parties.
Why cute party ideas? We know kids parties and kids party supplies! Get tips from a former supplier of small toys and
party supplies. You get all the best ideas for a party on one page. Other sites list boring and unnecessary details,
while Cute Party Ideas give you all the details you need to host a great party on one page.
(C) Copyright 2009-2011 by M.C. Nygard. All rights reserved.
Linking to this site is permitted. HOWEVER, no part of this content may be reproduced, or stored in any retrieval
system, or transmitted in any other form or by any means including but not limited to electronic, mechanical,
photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the written consent of the author. The author makes no warranties
express or implied. Works are protected by copyscape. We love to link to quality sites! Write us at Twitter.
See our other kids parties and pony parties.
Why cute party ideas? We know kids parties and kids party supplies! Get tips from a former supplier of small toys and
party supplies. You get all the best ideas for a party on one page. Other sites list boring and unnecessary details,
while Cute Party Ideas give you all the details you need to host a great party on one page.
This article is by M.C. Nygard, right, a
former eBay Platinum Powerseller of
party supplies. She's the mother of
two. Follow her on Twitter.
former eBay Platinum Powerseller of
party supplies. She's the mother of
two. Follow her on Twitter.
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