How to Make Diwali Meaningful This Year?

How do you plan to make Diwali meaningful this year? Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. The festival immediately conjures up images of lamps, firecrackers, new clothes, sweets, parties and lots of celebration. However, more and more people are choosing to opt-out of over the top, lavish celebrations, and doing something that they care about. This year, take the opportunity to make Diwali meaningful for your child.  

Ways to Celebrate Diwali In A Unique Way

The festival of lights is here to light up your home. There are plenty of ways in which you can have a simple, yet fulfilling celebration. Here are some tips:

1. Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness

Have you seen your child pretend to sweep the floor, or wipe the table? Children actually like being given tasks, as it makes them feel responsible. Give your child the opportunity to help with little things. It could be dusting tabletops or putting the newspapers away. Your child’s genuine desire to help is heartwarming and will recharge your batteries too. You can talk to him about the customary cleaning, that is an integral part of the festivities in many homes during Diwali.
 

2. Do it Yourself

It will be better if you plan DIY for you on Diwali. Here is a few one... 

• Get the creative juices flowing, and encourage your child to take up some simple projects at home.
• Ask your child to make a paper lantern or some simple decorations.
• Buy some plain diya's from the market, and ask your child to decorate them with glitter gels, sequins, mirrors, and paints. Light these up at home when they’re ready, to show how much you appreciate your child’s efforts.
• Ask for your child’s help in making an easy dessert, or a fruit arrangement.

Poonam Shah, mother of 13-year-old Neha says, “Earlier, Neha used to sit at home, doing nothing because she was scared of the firecrackers. She never enjoyed the festival celebrations. That’s when I thought of involving her in some creative tasks so that she can enjoy this sparkling festival, too.”

3. Why Not Share and Spread Some Joy?

You may have a teddy bear or a toy train buried under twenty other toys, which your child never plays with. Tell your child about the importance of giving and sharing. The toy train could light up another child’s face with a 1000-watt smile. Diwali can be about sharing what you have, with someone who will really appreciate it.

4. Party-time with a Traditional Twist

Choose some traditional clothes for your child. Help him, and his friends prepare and enact a skit on why Diwali is celebrated. Or you can have a puppet show to explain the significance of the festival. It will also make them think beyond gifts and sweets. Have them play scrabble or a word game with words related to Diwali to make it a fun party.

5. Light-up a Diya, not a Firecracker

• Lighting up a firecracker means noise and air pollution! This can result in health problems related to hearing and breathing.
• If you wish to keep up the tradition of lighting firecrackers, buy a few sparklers instead of the wide range of deafening bombs.
•  Take your child shopping for diya's and candles. Ask him to choose a few, so that he feels involved.

6. Go natural

• As far as possible, use natural and recycled materials.
• Use flowers and natural colors such as turmeric and vermilion for rangolis and decorations.
• Recycled paper can be used to make gift wrappers and boxes for the gifts you plan on giving your loved ones.
• Organic agarbathis are a great way to fill your house with fragrance, instead of artificial room scents.

7. Respecting the planet and her children

It is easy to get carried away with celebrations while simply forgetting how it can affect other living beings. Firecrackers not only contribute to pollution and health hazards for us, but are harmful to the various animals around us, too. Have you noticed how the stray dogs on the road simply disappear during Diwali? Chances are, they’re cowering with fear in some dark corner until the noise dies down. Teach your child to respect the planet and her children, and celebrate responsibly.

Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil and brings light into lives. This Diwali, teach your child how he can make a difference to the planet we live on, in simple, yet powerful ways. A child learns social consciousness, empathy, and sensitivity simply by observing and imitating you. So be that light for your child, this festive season. Happy Diwali!

Now it's your turn. Let us know in the comments section!