The festival of lights is one of the most amazing times of year. The illuminations of Diwali really add a sense of warmth and create a wonderful atmosphere that can be enjoyed by the whole neighbourhood. Many families opt to buy their Diwali lights and decorations, but why? It’s so easy to make your own, and your kids will love using their imagination to add their own creative flair to classic Diwali ornaments. Here are some great art and craft ideas suitable for the whole family that will really get you into the spirit of Diwali.
Candle Painting
As Diwali is the festival of lights, why not add a bit more illumination to your celebrations with some amazing candles painted and decorated by your creative kids? All you need are some plain wax candles, some wax crayons, and a paintbrush. In a heavy bottomed pan, melt some wax crayons until they form a liquid. Wearing gloves to protect against the heat, your kids can paint the melted wax onto the candle to form colourful shapes and pictures. The wax will dry quite rapidly, and you’ll be left with a beautifully designed candle that you’ll be proud to show off at your Diwali celebrations. Be warned that your kids may get a little messy doing this, but as long as you’ve got a working washing machine at home, you’ll be fine. Just peel off as much dried wax as you can, then saturate with a good quality stain remover before throwing in the machine.
Make Your Own Diyas
You may be surprised by just how easy Diyas are to make at home, with just a bit of flour and water! By mixing together just enough flour and water to form a very thick paste, you can shape the paste into the classic Diya shapes (or you could even opt for some not-so-traditional shapes if you wanted). Bake these Diyas in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, until they become hard. Allow them to cool, then your kids can decorate them however they like, with paints, crayons, pens, or even glitter. Add a wax disc and some coated string to make a wick and you’ve got your very own Diya that’s not only lovingly handmade, but it’s also much better for the environment that traditional, store bought Diyas!
Create Your Own Toran
Traditionally, torans are intricately embroidered, but that doesn’t mean your kids can’t create their own for Diwali. Using heavy duty card, draw out some templates of flowers (or you can buy templates at a craft store if you wish). Using these templates, your kids can draw around them onto paper to create a set of decorations that can be coloured and decorated however they wish. Once all the toran decorations have been made, glue or staple them onto a length of ribbon and then hang the homemade toran above your doorway.
For kids, Diwali is one of the most creative festivals of the year, and it’s a great chance for them to have fun, be inventive, and show off their artistic skills to family, friends, and neighbours. Why buy decorations that everyone else in the neighbourhood has when you can create your own unique Diwali ornaments and decor that will really make your celebrations stand out.