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Diwali Footprints

Learn about Diwali and celebrate one of the traditions by creating footprints that represent the arrival of Lakshmi who represents wealth and prosperity.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Heavy Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Diwali is one of the most celebrated Indian holidays. Called the festival of lights, it symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It is celebrated mostly by Hindus, but also by Jains, Sikhs, Newar Buddhists, and others. Have students investigate some of the traditions associated with the holiday, such as decorating homes with rangoli, a colorful artwork made with rice powder; exchanging gifts and cards; cleaning the house and leaving sweets out to figuratively welcome Lakshmi, who symbolizes prosperity; and others.

  • Step 2

    Another way celebrants welcome Lakshmi is by drawing small footprints around the home with colorful rangoli, which is made with rice powder, colored sand, flower petals, and other materials. Have students trace their feet on a piece of heavy paper. Then have them cut out the images and decorate them with colorful designs using markers, glitter glue, and other craft items if they wish.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to discuss why celebrating holidays and traditions with family, friends and loved ones is so meaningful.

Standards

SS: Culture: Create, learn, share, and adapt to culture.

SS: Individual Development and Identity: Describe factors important to the development of personal identity and the context of identity within families, peer or affinity groups, schools, communities, and nationalities.

Adaptations

Read a book such as "My Diwali: Lights of Virtue" by Priya Kumari, Komal Garg, and Abhilasha Khatri or "Lights for Gita" by Rachna Gilmore and Alice Priestley.

Have students investigate other celebrations in India, such as Holi - the festival of colors, Makar Sankranti - the kite festival, and Pongal - a harvest festival.