Diwali Paper Diyas

As we enter Autumn, we get to experience a period of wonderful festivals and celebrations. Diwali, the Festival of Lights marks the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. During Diwali, families come together to create beautiful memories through sacred traditions, such as decorating homes with lights, making delicious food, and engaging in creative activities.

For teachers, Diwali is a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to different cultures and traditions, while also engaging them in fun, hands-on activities. One such simple yet meaningful craft project is creating paper diyas – a traditional oil lamp used during the festival. This craft activity is perfect for young learners and can be a lovely decoration to brighten up your classroom.

Follow the simple steps below to get started.

Step 1

Cut a long strip of coloured card. You can choose bright colours such as red, orange, yellow, or gold to reflect the vibrant hues associated with Diwali.

Step 2

Fold card over multiple times, like an accordion fold. This will create the body of your diya, giving it a 3D look.

Step 3

Gently stretch out the folded card to create a semi-circle shape. This will form the base of the diya, which represents the oil container in traditional clay diyas.

Step 4

Cut out a flame shape from orange or yellow card. You can make the flame as big or small as you like, depending on the size of the diya.

Step 5

Attach the flame to the top of the diya using glue. Add additional decorations to your diya using glitter, sequins, or gems to give it that extra sparkle – just like the lights that illuminate homes during Diwali!

This craft not only sparks creativity but also provides a chance to discuss the meaning of Diwali with your class. You can talk about the different ways people celebrate, the significance of light in the festival, and how families around the world mark the occasion.

By engaging children in this hands-on activity, you’re fostering cultural awareness and helping them create something they can take home to share with their families.

Happy Diwali!

We’d love to see the final results! Make sure follow and tag us in your photos on Instagram. For more festival crafts, head to our inspirational activities page on our blog.