Festival of Light

Diya Craft-a-long - Festival of Lights


  • IF you grabbed at kit great everything is in there (apart from a glue stick)

Join in without a craft-a-long kit

  • You will need the craft-a-long sheet, coloring equipment or colored construction paper, scissors and a glue stick

  • Create as many as you like!


The Story of Diwali by Amruta Ram read aloud

Our craft is a Diya (also called a Diyo, Deya, Divaa, Deepa, Deepam, or Deepak) it is an oil lamp usually made from clay, with a cotton wick dipped in vegetable oils and is a symbol of Diwali.

Deepawali, Deepavali, or Diwali is a big, bright and beautiful Hindu festival. It is the festival of lights: deep means "light" and avali "a row".

Literally a Row of Lights!

Diwali, traced back to ancient India, is marked by a week of celebration, filled with lights, family, fireworks and good food.

It begins on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik, which can be anywhere between late October to mid November, in 2020 it begins Nov 14th.

Nowadays it is celebrated and respected all over the world and can be enjoyed by all.


Step by Step

  1. The craft-a-long kit contains 1/4 sheet of construction paper and flame templates

  2. Cut out the flames first and set them to one side

  3. Turn the construction paper so the shorter side is toward you and slowly fold thinly, flip, fold and flip until you have created a concertina fold all the way up the piece of paper

  4. Fold the folded paper in half and squeeze together


Paper length ways


The concertina fold


Completed concertina fold

Step 4

5. Glue the two sides together and press together well. Leave it to dry

Once dry fold it out to create the fan shaped semi circle shape

6. While the fan shape is drying glue and assemble the flame

completed flame

7. Glue the flame shape to the back of the fan


If you have time you can make more or create a fabulous wall handing/garland. The more colors the better!


Thank you: Abhi Tarlapally (1st grade) and his mom Chandrika Tarlapally for helping to prepare and deliver this craft-a-long

Extra Craft-a-long - Rangoli

What is rangoli?

Rangoli- meaning color, is another traditional art originating in India. Colorful patterns are created on the floor using different materials, such as colored, ground rice powder, flowers, Diyas, or special colored powders.

They are a little like Mandala's, that also originate from India and mean circle.

Click on the picture for a Rangoli coloring page

There are some beautiful, creative and colorful examples below.


More Crafts are coming your way soon, keep your eye out and we will have more ways to collect craft-a-long packets and more in store to help you through this special year.


If you didn't collect all our Summer Craft-a-longs please visit the Craft-a-long section on the site and if you have any ideas for future activities please contact changoartsined@gmail.com or join us for one of our virtual PTA meetings