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Diwali DIY with Kids

Diwali DIY with kids doesn’t need a craft store run. Most of these use what turned up while you were decluttering.

⏱️ Parents’ quick plan (30-second read)

What: 8 easy Diwali crafts, from 20-minute projects to one weekend make

Ages: 3 to 12, with help on cutting and anything with a flame

You need: old diyas, old clothes, newspapers, paper, paints and glue

Best for: weeknights, weekend afternoons and gifts for grandparents

Free printable: craft templates pack, at the end of this post

The corridor we took over every Diwali

Rangoli was the most memorable thing my sister and I did on Diwali day. We spent hours decorating the door.

Sometimes we hijacked the whole corridor. The neighbours were kind: they loved it, and some even joined in, because it made the whole place look vibrant.

Why handmade matters at Diwali

🪔 It carries effort. The person receiving it knows you put work into it.
💭 It carries thought. Before you even arrive, you’ve spent time planning something just for them.
⏳ It carries time together. The making is the memory, for you and your kids.

Say it to your kids: “When we make something by hand, we’re giving a little bit of our time and love.”

Diwali DIY with kids: pick your craft

Craft	Ages	Time	Mess	Best for
🪔 Painted clay diyas	4+	45 min + drying	Medium	Puja and gifting
🧶 Braided aasan from old clothes	8+	Weekend project	Low	Puja seat, keepsake
🏮 Paper lanterns (kandeel)	5+	30 min	Low	Windows and balcony
🌸 Rice, lentil or flower rangoli	3+	30 to 60 min	Medium	Front door
✨ Jar lamps	6+ with an adult	20 min	Low	Table and corners
💌 Greeting cards for grandparents	3+	20 min	Low	Gifting, posting
👣 Shubh-Labh and Lakshmi footprints	4+	30 min	Low	Door and puja corner
🎁 Newspaper gift wrap	4+	20 min	Low	Wrapping Diwali gifts

1 · Painted clay diyas 🪔

Start with: plain mitti diyas, or last year’s old diyas to give a new life.
Steps: wash and dry to remove dirt → white base coat, let it dry → sketch your design → colour → decorate with glitter and bling stickers.
Paints: acrylic or child-safe colours.
Parent tip: paint the base coat the night before, so kids jump straight to the fun part.

2 · Braided aasan from old clothes, wool etc 🧶

Start with: old clothes, washed and clean.
Steps: cut long strips → join them into extra-long strips → braid → coil the braid into an aasan shape.
Easier version: cut a chart-paper base in the aasan shape and stick the braid on until the whole area is covered.
Finish: take an adult’s help to stitch the cloth pieces together.

3 · Paper lanterns (kandeel) 🏮

Start with: coloured paper or old chart paper, scissors, glue.
Steps: fold the sheet in half lengthways → cut slits along the fold → unfold, roll into a tube and glue → add a paper handle.
Parent tip: hang them with fairy lights inside, never a candle.

4 · No-mess rangoli 🌸

Start with: coloured rice, lentils or flower petals instead of powder.
Steps: draw the outline in chalk → fill one section at a time → finish with diyas around the edge.
Parent tip: use the rangoli colouring sheet in the printable to plan the design first. For older kids, they can do mandala Rangoli.

5 · Jar lamps ✨

Version 1, no flame: fill a glass jar with beads, small toys and fairy lights.
Version 2, floating diya: fill a jar with water → add a spoonful of oil on top → float a wick on the oil → decorate the jar with flowers.
Safety: an adult lights the wick, and the jar sits out of reach.

6 · Greeting cards for grandparents 💌

Designs: a diya, crackers, a rangoli, or the family together.
Make it special: add one line from your child: “My favourite Diwali memory with you is…”
Parent tip: post or courier them early, or send a photo on WhatsApp if family is far away.

7 · Shubh-Labh and Lakshmi footprints 👣

Start with: paper, paints, or the stencils in the printable.
Steps: cut out “Shubh” and “Labh” and small footprints → colour and decorate → stick on either side of the door, footprints walking in.
Say it to your kids: “The footprints show Lakshmi Maa the way into our home.”

8 · Newspaper gift wrap 🎁

Start with: old newspapers, book pages, or worn-out activity books from Post 1’s Book Nook.
Steps: wrap the gift → add hand-drawn diyas or stamps → tie with leftover ribbon or wool.
Why it works: zero cost, zero waste, and every wrap is one of a kind.

Working parent? Your shortcut ⚡

Three 20-minute weeknight crafts: greeting cards, newspaper gift wrap, jar lamps (version 1).
One weekend project: the braided aasan, or a big family rangoli.
Prep the night before: base-coat the diyas and cut paper strips, so the kids start with the fun bit.
Set up a craft tray: one tray, one craft, one wipe-down. Mess stays contained.
Skip perfect: wonky diyas are the ones you’ll keep for years.

📥 Free printable: craft templates pack

Rangoli colouring sheets, to plan designs before you pour
Diya stencils for painting and card fronts
Lantern cut-out template
Shubh-Labh letters and Lakshmi footprint stencils
Greeting card templates for grandparents

Get the craft templates pack!

This is printable 2 of 4 in the Damuru Diwali Kit. Check and get your Diwali printables. Here is the first one.