Celebrate Diwali and make DIY diya lamps with Little Passports

Make Your Own Diya for Diwali

Diwali is the five-day Indian Festival of Lights. Homes are cleaned and decorated with diyas, strings of lights, flower garlands and paper chains, and doorstep designs are made for good luck with colored powders called Rangolis. Popular activities include playing card games, dressing up in new clothes, and exchanging boxes of sweets. Our friend Kim Vij celebrates with her family by making their own diyas. Read more and learn to make your own!

DIY Diya:

Diyas are a small type of lamp, lit on Diwali for worship and decorative purposes. Diyas come in a variety of options: they can be plain, colorful, simple, fancy, big or small! Traditionally they are made out of clay and then filled with oil to be lit. They are lined up on building edges and windowsills and illuminated during Diwali.

Here is a fun way for you and your little one to create your own diya for Diwali:

Materials Needed:

Small beads
Air-dry Clay or Playdough
Rolling pin
Plastic knife
Stamps
Ink Pad
Small bowl
Paint or markers
Votive candle or battery operated candle

DIY Diya Directions:

Step 1: Roll out the air clay or play dough to a smooth thin layer.

Step 2: Place a bowl upside-down on top of the clay, and cut around the bowl to create a circle.

Step 2 - make a clay diya, cutting clay around a bowl

Step 3: Stamp the clay using a pre-made stamp or carve out by hand. (We made our stamp with glue and cardboard!)

Step 3 - Creating a Diya with Clay with Kids, stamp the clay

Step 4: Include ink to add colors. (Optional)

Step 4 - make a clay diya with kids, color the stamp pattern

Step 5: Take the clay circle and gently set into the small bowl to form the bowl shape of the diya. Add small beads for decoration. Allow clay to dry overnight. Remove from bowl to complete drying.

Step 5 - make a clay diya with kids, shape the clay and add beads

Step 6: Once dry, paint the bowl for added decoration. (Optional) Add the candle to the diya and illuminate at night on Diwali!

Step 6 - make a clay diya with kids, diya completed and dry

Kim Vij is an early childhood educator and mom of three. She shares her “Educator’s Spin” on parenting issues and how to make everyday moments into learning opportunities at The Educator’s Spin On It and award winning Pinterest Boards. You can connect with Kim on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Google+.