Diwali

Celebrating with music, diyas and Rangoli patterns

What you need:

● Access to the internet to research the story or share the book Rama and Sita by

Malachy Doyle ● A device to play audio ● Indian music

● A range of diyas (lamps used during Diwali) ● Air-drying clay to make diyas ● Powder paints or coloured rice to make Rangoli patterns (colourful designs created on floors or tabletops)

Top tip

Research Rangoli patterns and show children some examples of simple or complex designs as a way to explore mathematical concepts.

Health & Safety

If children are using tea lights and matches, close adult supervision is required. If you make an Indian sweet, be aware of allergies and dietary requirements.

What to do:

1. Research the story of Rama and Sita and how the festival of Diwali was created. 2. Tell the story to the children during circle time, exploring the victory of good over bad. Explain that

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains all over

India and around the world. 3. Explore how the word ‘Diwali’ comes for the Sanskrit word ‘deepavali’, meaning ‘rows of lighted lamps’. 4. Show the children pictures of people celebrating Diwali and the diyas that you have gathered, while you play some music. Encourage the children to hold and feel the diyas, whilst emphasising the importance of light. 5. Invite the children to make their own diyas using the clay. An adult may need to help to make the clay soft. 6. Whilst the diyas are drying, support the children in creating their Rangoli patterns. 7. Once the diyas have dried, the children can paint them, place a tea light inside them and display them around their Rangoli patterns.

What’s in it for the children?

Diwali is a popular marker in many people’s calendars; learning about Diwali will help those children who don’t celebrate this festival to appreciate other cultures and traditions. Children who celebrate Diwali will feel included and recognised in the setting. The diya activity can provide a chance for children to take part in some risky play by lighting a match to light their tea light (with close adult supervision).

Taking it forward

● Invite the children to dance to the

Indian music.

● Make an Indian sweet for the children to take home.