Popularly known as the festival of lights, the traditional celebration of Deepavali or Diwali is said to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. It is also believed that the Hindu goddess, Lakshmi, would visit her devotees on that day, blessing them with tremendous wealth and good fortune. To welcome the goddess into a home, clay lamps and colourful kolam designs are often displayed by the entrance. This age-old practice is why most Deepavali decorations and art and craft projects often feature bright hues, and lamps and lights of any kind. Kids will probably find this little bit of history interesting, but pairing it with a fun and easy Deepavali art and craft session will help bring the message home!
Easy Deepavali Art And Craft Ideas For Kids To Try
Here are nine simple but creative Deepavali art and craft ideas for kindergarten kids and preschoolers to DIY.
1. Paper Plate Kolam Art
If you’re looking for an undemanding Deepavali art and craft project that’s fun for kindergarten kiddos, this paper plate kolam art is a good place to start. Don’t worry, it’s nothing like making an actual kolam, and requires only simple cutting and pasting techniques.
Supplies you’ll need:
- Multicoloured construction paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Clear glue
- Paper plate
2. Bangle Candle Holder
If you’ve got any old bangles from past Diwalis lying around the house, don’t throw them out just yet. Transform them into these rainbow-coloured candle holders instead! Just make sure the kids put on a pair of disposable gloves while they’re working on the project, as it involves very sticky glue.
Supplies you’ll need:
3. Paper Lotus Light
Here’s a Deepavali art and craft project that looks beautiful but isn’t at all difficult for preschoolers. The only challenge is cutting out the paper petals, which will require some concentration and patience from your little one. Thereafter, everything comes together quickly, forming a blooming lotus that closely resembles the real thing!
Supplies you’ll need:
- Crepe paper in pink, fuchsia, and magenta
- White glue
- Scissors
- Coloured paper in green and white
- LED tealight
4. Tasselled Lotus Flower
Five ‘petals’, a circle, and a tassel are pretty much all you need to craft this Diwali wall decor. Between these three components, the kids will probably look forward to making the tassel most, which turns out to be surprisingly easy!
Supplies you’ll need:
- Coloured paper in orange and pink
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Sticker gems
- Hole puncher
- Red sewing thread
5. Diwali Lantern
This Diwali lantern – much like the ones made during the Mooncake Festival – is an art and craft project that’s made for kindergarteners. All they need to do is cut in straight lines, paste both ends of the lantern together, along with the metallic tape and handle, and that’s it!
Supplies you’ll need:
- Construction paper in yellow and orange
- Scissors
- White glue
- Stapler
- Red metallic tape
6. Paper Diya
With just a handful of supplies, children can recreate the diya (oil lamp) used during Deepavali by following this simple art and craft project. What’s interesting is that the 3D ‘bowl’ is made by folding circular sheets of paper then pasting them together to form a sturdy structure. But if the kids aren’t able to cut so many circles on their own, parents and teachers can help out too!
Supplies you’ll need:
- Red coloured paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- White glue
- Gold glitter foam sheet
7. Paper Tealight Garland
Teachers, if you need to teach Deepavali art and craft to a group of preschoolers, this is a project that requires teamwork. The best part is that it also doubles as a classroom decoration. Have each child create their own paper diya, then string them all together into a festive garland, or two! There’s even a printable outline, so there’s no need to trace shapes on the coloured paper.
Supplies you’ll need:
- Tealight outline printable
- Coloured paper
- White glue
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Yellow yarn
8. Plastic Spoon Candle Holder
With this Deepavali art and craft project, you can teach kindergarten children to give plastic spoons a new lease of life. Simply spray-paint the ‘bowls’ of the spoon then arrange them on a circular cardboard in an overlapping manner. It doesn’t even have to be gold in colour. Let the kids go as bold or as colourful as they’d like!
Supplies you’ll need:
- Plastic spoons
- Scissors
- Gold spray paint
- Hot glue gun
- Cardboard
- LED tealight
9. Easy Diwali Paper Lamp
Go back to basics with this fuss-free Diwali art and craft activity. While it’s simple, it also gives kids the creative freedom to draw or colour as they’d like. Prepare a variety of materials for them to draw with, such as coloured pencils, crayons, and watercolour pens, and let their creative juices flow!
Supplies you’ll need:
- White paper
- Pencil
- Circle stencil
- Scissors
- Colourful marker pens
- Glue
10. Diwali Fireworks
Besides the lighting of lamps and candles, Deepavali is also commonly celebrated with fireworks. A fun craft idea for kids is creating DIY fireworks art. Using materials like colorful paper, glue, glitter, and paint, children can design their own vibrant “fireworks” display on paper, mimicking the festival’s colourful night sky.
Supplies you’ll need:
- Craft paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Glue
- Cotton earbud
- Brush
- Acrylic paint
10. Door Hanging Toran
An integral part of celebrating Deepavali is putting up decorations around the house. This decorative piece that can be hung on the door uses colourful paper strips to form intricate patterns, perfect for festive home décor. The project enhances children’s creativity while teaching them the traditional significance of welcoming guests during Diwali.
Supplies you’ll need:
- Colour papers
- Glue
- Scissors
- Pencil/Marker
- Ruler/Scale
- Round pearls
- Golden beads
- Thread
Celebrate Diversity With These Deepavali Art And Craft Ideas For Kindergarten Kids
Whether you’re a parent or teacher, these Deepavali art and craft projects for preschoolers are a great way to embrace the uniqueness of this festival. Don’t forget to explain the significance of the celebration to your kids while you’re at it. Hopefully, this will inculcate a sense of racial harmony and understanding among the future generation. Last but not least, Happy Deepavali to you and your family!
If you’d like to dress up this Diwali, check out our round-ups on different types of traditional Indian clothing and simple henna designs for beginners. And don’t forget to catch Shopee’s hilarious yet heart-warming short film, aptly entitled Deepava-LIT.
