How to Teach Children About Diwali

If you're a child, it's easy to think of the Hindu festival of Diwali as being about fireworks and candy. It's important, however, to teach children about the true meaning of the Festival of Lights, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Diwali is about realizing and understanding the inner light that resides within all of us.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Teach Children About Diwali

1. Explain to children, using a Hindu calendar, when Diwali occurs every year. The 5-day festival is centered around the new moon phase of the Hindu month of Kartik, which is usually during late October and early November.
2. Teach children about the true meaning of the festival. The most popular version revolves around the return of Lord Rama from exile after defeating evil demons. Other versions focus on Lakshmi Mata, the goddess of light and prosperity, and the act of welcoming her into your home.
3. Outline the 5 days of the festival, and explain what should be done on each day. The first day, Dhan teras, is used to shop and prepare for the celebration. The second day, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the beginning of the lighting of the lamps, as well as the setting off of fireworks to celebrate the defeat of demons. The third day is Diwali itself, the center of the celebration. The fourth day, Annakut, is marked by feasts. And Bhayiduj, the last day, is reserved for brothers and sisters to strengthen their bonds with each other.
4. Show the various ways in which people celebrate Diwali, such as sharing candy and sweets, lighting fireworks, buying new clothes, wearing gold and jewelry, decorating their homes, lighting lamps and diyas (small clay pots which are lit like luminarias) and painting designs on their hands with henna.
5. Reinforce the idea of Diwali as a time of personal enlightenment by teaching children how to participate in prayer services. Teach them how to perform a puja, which is a ritual involving meditation.

Tips & Warnings

• Explain to children the differences in the way people may celebrate Diwali from country to country and from religion to religion. Hindus, Jains and Sikhs all observe the Festival of Lights.
• Explain the difference between the term Diwali, which is a more colloquial word to describe the festival, and Deepavali, which is the more formal term, and which is actually preferred in some countries.