Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the radiant Festival of Lights—a time to celebrate joy, knowledge, and new beginnings. Whether you’re in the classroom, homeschooling, or crafting at home, there are so many creative ways to make this beautiful holiday meaningful for children. From hands-on art projects to math adventures and cultural stories, here are some top ways to celebrate Diwali with kids this season!
1. 🌼 Create a Festive Masterpiece: Diwali Wreath Craft
Kick off the celebration with a Diwali Wreath Craft Activity, perfect for toddlers through kindergarteners! This hands-on project invites young learners to color, cut, and glue Diwali-themed images—like diyas, rangolis, and marigold flowers—onto a bright wreath template.
With two wreath sizes included, this low-prep craft is adaptable for little hands and easy to display in classrooms or at home. It’s a joyful way to boost creativity while reinforcing fine motor skills and cultural understanding.
Why You’ll Love It:
Builds hand-eye coordination and fine motor strength
Encourages creativity and cultural awareness
Simple setup—just print, color, cut, and glue!
Ideal for classroom crafts, festive decorations, and family fun
2. 💻 Light Up Learning: Diwali Math Escape Room
Make math sparkle with a Diwali-themed digital escape room! In The Case of the Missing Diyas, students solve decimal subtraction problems to recover glowing diyas before the festival begins.
These no-prep, interactive breakout games brings together puzzles, secret codes, and instant feedback—turning math into a festive adventure. Versions are available for grades 2–5 and adaptable for classroom, small-group, or independent learning.
Highlights:
Engages students with game-like puzzles
Strengthens math skills in an exciting way
No printing or setup required—just assign and play!
Great for spiral review or seasonal math centers
3. 🪔 Decorate Clay Diyas with Paint and Creativity
A timeless Diwali tradition, decorating clay diyas is a beautiful way to connect with the festival’s spirit. Simply purchase plain clay diyas and let kids personalize them with paint markers, glitter, stick-on gems, or bright paints.
Once dry, place a tea light inside and use the diyas to brighten up your home or classroom. It’s an artful blend of creativity, sensory play, and cultural connection.
4. 🎨 Explore Colors: The Colors of Diwali Sorting Craft
Celebrate the vibrancy of the season with the Colors of Diwali Recognition Activity, designed for toddlers through kindergarteners. This art-based color sorting game helps children learn hues associated with Diwali—gold, red, orange, and more—through coloring, matching, and crafting.
It’s a fun, visual way to combine early learning with festive creativity!
5. 🌸 Thread a Garland of Marigolds
Encourage fine motor practice with garland threading—a hands-on activity inspired by traditional Diwali decorations. Using real or artificial marigold flowers and age-appropriate needles, children can thread the blooms onto string to create colorful garlands.
Hang the finished garlands on doors, windows, or classroom walls to fill your space with festive warmth.
6. 🌀 Chalk Paint Rangolis: Sidewalk Art Celebration
Introduce kids to the art of rangoli, traditional patterns made during Diwali to welcome good fortune.
Make chalk paint by grating colorful chalk into bowls and adding a bit of water. Use painter’s tape to outline a rangoli design on the sidewalk or driveway, then paint within the lines. Once dry, peel up the tape to reveal a stunning pattern!
This creative outdoor activity blends art, culture, and teamwork in one vibrant project.
7. ➕ 3D Diya Math Craft for Grades 2–6
Bring math to life with a 3D Diya Math Craft—a perfect mix of academics and celebration! Students solve math problems to earn diya flames and assemble their own glowing paper diya.
Aligned with grade-level standards from 2-6, these printable, no-prep activities reinforce math fluency while celebrating Diwali traditions. Ideal for centers, small groups, or early finishers.
Skills & Benefits:
Practices math skills in a fun and exciting way
Enhances fine motor skills through cutting and folding
Encourages creativity and cultural learning
Includes printable templates, answer keys, and blank options for differentiation
📚 Brighten the Season with Diwali Book Picks
Round out your celebration with a cozy reading session! Here are some wonderful books to introduce kids to Diwali’s meaning and magic:
Diwali (Celebrate the World) – A beautifully illustrated board book introducing little ones to Diwali traditions.
The Best Diwali Ever by Sonali Shah, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat – A warm story of family, food, and celebration.
The Festival of Lights: A Lift-The-Flap Diwali Celebration by Namita Moolani Mehra, illustrated by Darshika Varma – Interactive fun for curious minds.
The Light Within You by Namita Moolani Mehra, illustrated by Kamala Nair – Our personal favorite, a heartfelt tale about kindness, belonging, and the true light within us all.
🪔 Final Thoughts
From crafting and math games to colorful art and cultural storytelling, these Diwali activities bring joy, learning, and creativity together. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or homeschooler, these ideas help children celebrate Diwali in meaningful, hands-on ways—illuminating both hearts and minds.