Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a holiday children love to be part of. You might celebrate at home in India or with family abroad, or your child might be learning about it at school. Either way, these Diwali activities for kids and the printable coloring pages that go with them give children plenty to make, cook and play during the festival.
Ages 3-10 · Most activities take 15-45 minutes · Includes free printable diya and rangoli coloring pages.
Below you’ll find 15 easy ideas grouped by type: crafts, kitchen fun, learning and stories, and games. Each idea lists what you need and a tip for little ones. Scroll down for the printable coloring pages, which come in handy for quiet time on a busy festival day.
[Printable PDF to be added] Diwali coloring pack with 4 diya pages and 4 rangoli pages (easy and detailed), A4 and US Letter.
What is Diwali? A quick explanation for kids
Diwali (also called Deepavali) is a festival celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world. It usually falls in October or November, on the darkest night of the Hindu month of Kartik. The word “Deepavali” means “a row of lights”.
Families clean and decorate their homes, light clay lamps called diyas, draw bright rangoli patterns at the door, share sweets, wear new clothes and visit friends and relatives. For many Hindu families, Diwali celebrates Lord Rama’s return home to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana, and the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
To share the full tale with your children, read our Diwali story for kids before you start the activities.
The five days of Diwali (explained simply)
In many families Diwali lasts five days, and each day has its own small traditions. You can match an activity from this list to each day.
- Dhanteras: Families clean their homes and often buy something new, like a steel pot or a small piece of gold. Kids’ job: help tidy their room and decorate a sweet box.
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali): People wake early, bathe and light the first lamps. Kids’ job: paint a diya to use that evening.
- Lakshmi Puja (main Diwali day): Homes glow with diyas and rangoli, and families pray to Goddess Lakshmi for good fortune. Kids’ job: draw a rangoli at the door and help light the lamps with an adult.
- Govardhan Puja / New Year: In some regions this is the start of a new year. Kids’ job: make a gratitude diya with one wish for the year ahead.
- Bhai Dooj: Brothers and sisters celebrate their bond with gifts and blessings. Kids’ job: make a card for a sibling or cousin.
A simple Diwali activity plan by age
If you’re not sure where to start, pick two or three ideas that suit your child’s age.
- Toddlers (2-3): paper plate diya, chalk scribble rangoli, diya hunt with large paper lamps.
- Preschool (3-5): painting clay diyas, easy diya coloring page, rolling coconut ladoos.
- Early primary (5-7): salt dough diyas, rice rangoli, retelling the Rama and Sita story with puppets.
- Older kids (8-10): paper lanterns, symmetry challenge, mandala rangoli coloring, shadow and light science.
Diwali crafts for kids
1. Paint your own clay diya
You need: plain clay diyas (from a local market or online), acrylic or poster paint, brushes, glitter glue.
Let children paint the outside of the diya in bright colors and add dots, stripes or tiny flowers. Once dry, an adult can add a tea light. Toddlers can use washable paint and dab it on with a cotton bud.
2. Salt dough diyas
You need: 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, ½ cup water.
Mix into a dough, roll a ball, and press your thumb into the middle to make a lamp shape. Bake at a low temperature or air-dry for two days, then paint. Pressing and shaping the dough is good fine-motor practice for preschoolers.
3. Paper plate diya
Cut a paper plate in half, fold it into a bowl shape, and glue on a yellow and orange tissue-paper “flame”. Decorate with sequins. It’s a safe, flame-free option for the classroom.
4. Paper lanterns (Akash Kandil)
Fold a sheet of colored paper in half lengthwise, cut slits along the fold, open it up and roll it into a tube. Add a paper handle and hang several in a row across a window.
5. Toran door hanging
Cut leaf and flower shapes from green, orange and yellow paper. Punch a hole in each and thread them onto a ribbon. Hang the toran over a doorway to welcome guests, just like real marigold torans.
Rangoli activities
6. Chalk rangoli on the doorstep
Draw a large circle or flower outline with white chalk, then fill it in with colored chalk. If you live in an apartment, use a large sheet of black chart paper instead.
7. Rice or lentil rangoli
Dye uncooked rice with a few drops of food coloring and a splash of vinegar, then let it dry. Children can fill a simple outline by pouring the colored rice with a spoon. Lentils and dried flowers work too.
8. Rangoli coloring pages
Our printable rangoli pages have symmetrical patterns that are calming to color. Younger children can use crayons on the easy pages, while older kids enjoy the detailed mandala-style designs with felt-tip pens.
[Printable PDF to be added] Rangoli coloring pages (easy and detailed).
9. Symmetry challenge
Fold a square of paper into four. Draw a pattern in one quarter, then ask your child to copy it exactly into the other three. It’s a sneaky math lesson about symmetry and patterns.
Diwali kitchen activities
10. No-cook coconut ladoo
You need: 1 cup desiccated coconut, ½ cup condensed milk, a pinch of cardamom.
Mix everything in a bowl, then let children roll it into small balls and coat them in extra coconut. There’s no stove involved, so little hands can do most of the work. (Check for nut and dairy allergies before sharing.)
11. Decorate sweet boxes
Give kids plain cardboard boxes or paper bags to decorate with stickers, stamps and drawings. Fill them with sweets and deliver them to neighbors, teachers or grandparents. Sharing sweets with others is a big part of Diwali.
Diwali learning and story activities
12. Retell the story of Rama and Sita
After reading the story, ask your child to retell it using paper puppets or soft toys. You can make stick puppets of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman and Ravana from card and craft sticks.
13. Make a Diwali gratitude diya
Diwali is a time for new beginnings. Cut out a paper diya and ask children to write or draw one thing they are thankful for and one good wish for the new year inside the flame. Display all the diyas together on a wall.
Diwali games for kids
14. Diya hunt
Hide paper diyas (or painted stones) around the house or garden. Give each child a basket and see who can find the most. For older kids, write a clue on each diya that leads to the next one.
15. Light and shadow play
Diwali is about light, so it’s a good time to play with it. In a dark room, use a torch to make shadow animals on the wall, or shine light through colored cellophane to see how colors mix. It’s an easy science activity with no flames involved.
Looking for more ideas to keep children busy all year round? Browse our fun kids activities for every day and our favorite indoor activities for kids.
Free printable diya & rangoli coloring pages
The coloring pack includes eight pages designed for different ages:
- Easy diya (ages 3-5): a large lamp with thick outlines and a simple flame.
- Row of diyas (ages 4-6): five lamps with a “Happy Diwali” banner.
- Patterned diya (ages 6-10): a lamp covered in dots, swirls and petals.
- Diya and lotus (ages 6-10): a lamp resting on a lotus flower.
- Simple flower rangoli (ages 3-6): a big eight-petal flower.
- Peacock rangoli (ages 5-8): a peacock with a fanned tail.
- Mandala rangoli (ages 8+): a detailed circular pattern.
- Design your own: a blank grid for children to create their own rangoli.
[Printable PDF to be added] Download button for the complete Diwali coloring pack.
Print on thick paper if you plan to cut out the diyas. The rangoli pages can be laminated and used as reusable placemats, and the whole pack works well as a handout at a classroom Diwali party.
Diwali safety tips for parents
- Always supervise children around diyas, candles and sparklers.
- Use LED tea lights for crafts that children will handle.
- Keep loose clothing, long hair and paper decorations away from flames.
- If your family uses fireworks, keep a bucket of water or sand nearby and let adults handle them.
- Be mindful of pets, who may be frightened by loud firecrackers.
Tips for teachers: Diwali in the classroom
Diwali gives a class the chance to learn about a festival that some classmates may celebrate at home. Invite families who celebrate to share their traditions, clothing or a favorite sweet. Pair the story with a craft and a coloring page, and keep activities flame-free. Use the symmetry challenge and rice rangoli as cross-curricular math and art lessons.
FAQ: Diwali activities for kids
What are some easy Diwali activities for preschoolers?
Painting clay diyas, making paper plate diyas, coloring simple rangoli pages and rolling no-cook coconut ladoos are all easy, low-mess activities that preschoolers enjoy.
How do you explain Diwali to a child?
Keep it simple: Diwali is the Festival of Lights, when families light lamps, share sweets and celebrate good winning over bad. Reading a short Diwali story together helps children understand why the lamps are lit.
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Celebrations usually last five days, starting with Dhanteras and ending with Bhai Dooj.
Are these Diwali printables free?
Yes. The diya and rangoli coloring pages are free for personal, home and classroom use.
What do children wear for Diwali?
Many children wear new or festive traditional clothes, such as a kurta, lehenga or salwar kameez, in bright colors. For a classroom celebration, any colorful outfit works well.
Can kids who don’t celebrate Diwali do these activities?
Yes. Children from any background can do these crafts and games, and they are a respectful way to learn about another culture’s festival.
