Tips to Make Diwali Interesting without Firecrackers

Why should Diwali be all about the noisy firecrackers? The essence of the festival lies in having fun with friends and family, sharing light moments, and delicious dry fruits recipes with them sans the loud noise and smoke of crackers.

With Diwali round the corner, each one of us is gearing up for the festival - whether it is about sprucing up our homes, going shopping for new clothes or getting ready to burst firecrackers. But this Diwali takes a moment to think about firecrackers and whether they are really necessary. Have you given a thought to the hazardous and life-threatening air pollution and deafening noise, emitted by the firecrackers that can have adverse effects on you, your child and everyone around? Doing away with firecrackers doesn’t mean doing away with fun.

Read on to find out how you enjoy Diwali without firecrackers.

How to Make Deepawali Fun Without Firecrackers?

This festive season, encourage your child to celebrate responsibly. Here are some ways you can make the Diwali festival interesting for your child while avoiding firecrackers. Let’s spread love and bring smiles on faces, and not contribute towards creating a harmful and destructive environment. Let’s teach our children to be responsible citizens

Story Telling for Children

Children are naturally curious learners and it is difficult to get them involved in any task without proper reasoning.

• Explain the significance of Diwali through mythology. You can do that by narrating your child the legend of Lord Rama and his wife Sita
• You can also tell them the mythological story of Goddess Lakshmi wandering around the earth looking for clean and brightened homes. The story would encourage children to keep their rooms and surroundings clean and well organized
• If you’re having a Diwali party for children, organize a story-telling session for the children. Involve other mothers in the neighborhood, arrange for props and the costumes, invest in some sound effects and you can have a room full of the excited young audience. Firecrackers? They will surely not miss them if they get to see a performance of interesting mythological stories

Delicious Food

Any Indian festival celebration is incomplete without delicious festive food and sweets. Even the fussiest eaters of the lot, enjoy indulging in the wide assortment of delicacies.

• Prepare a variety of healthy food items, which would tickle the little taste buds and keep the love for the festival ticking
• Older children can be involved in deciding the menu for the festival, looking up recipes on the Internet, and helping you cook them too
• The younger ones can accompany you on your grocery shopping trip, and take up simple tasks such as arranging the table. Children, when given responsibility, feel all grown up and the chances of them doing the task become higher

Decoration

If your child is usually excited about his craft lessons in school, encourage him to showcase his talent at home, too. Involve him in making simple Diwali decorations for your home, and ask for his help in putting them up. This will keep him creatively engaged, and also makes him feel responsible for being involved in the festive activities

Get Together

Organize a party for close family and friends to give your child the opportunity to bond with loved ones.

• Encourage her to personally invite her friends and cousins by either making invitation cards or calling them on the phone
• Take your child’s help while deciding the menu, the décor, and other party details for the evening
• Let her choose her party clothes for the evening

Arrange Games & Fun Activities

If you live in a large apartment complex, arrange games and fun activities for the children and elders.

• Organize dramas and games, which in turn would infuse into children the importance of festivals
• Dramas and games can be about truth, honesty, and stories about the festivals where children can learn and respect our culture

Teach Your Child to Give

What’s a festival without giving and sharing? Take some of the money that you usually spend of firecrackers and use it to spread some festival fun among those who need it. This can mean buying clothes, essential items, or sweets for various charities or giving away the toys your child does not use anymore

Make Personalized Presents

Diwali is usually never complete without gifts for loved ones.

• Involve your child in deciding and then making personalized gifts for the family - including grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins
• Your child can make cards, craft something, or help you make chocolates or bake cupcakes for everyone
• This will keep her busy, and the pride she will feel from having made something on her own will be priceless

How are you planning to celebrate Diwali, this year? Do share your ideas, views, and feedback with us in the comments section below!