5 days of Diwali
Diwali is a 5 day festival celebrated in the 7th month of the Lunar (moon) calendar, which follows the moon’s movements and path. It starts on the 12th day after the Full Moon in this month. It is celebrated across many faiths and everyone has different stories. Diwali is all about celebrating the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance. Let's learn more by visiting each booth one by one!
Booth 1: Kandil and Diya making + Vasubaras
Welcome to Booth 1 where children will get to start off by making their own kandil (lantern) and/or diva!
The significance of these is to symbolize what Diwali is all about - the victory of light over darkness! ​Next at this booth, children will get to learn about and partake in Vasubaras! The first day of Diwali is when we worship a Cow “Kamdhenu” by feeding her baby calf. It celebrates motherhood, fertility and parenthood. On this day, we express gratitude to cows because like mothers, they are nurturing and play a key role in sustenance. We give our thanks by adorning the cow and her calf with garlands, haldi kunku, performing puja, and giving the cow food.
Simulation activity: Please have your children use the pooja thali, then give a flower as an offering at the foot of the idol. At the end, don’t forget to collect your child’s MAI dollars to use at the next booth!
Booth 1: Kandil and Diya making + Vasubaras
Welcome to Booth 1 where children will get to start off by making their own kandil (lantern) and/or diva!
The significance of these is to symbolize what Diwali is all about - the victory of light over darkness! ​Next at this booth, children will get to learn about and partake in Vasubaras! The first day of Diwali is when we worship a Cow “Kamdhenu” by feeding her baby calf. It celebrates motherhood, fertility and parenthood. On this day, we express gratitude to cows because like mothers, they are nurturing and play a key role in sustenance. We give our thanks by adorning the cow and her calf with garlands, haldi kunku, performing puja, and giving the cow food.
Simulation activity: Please have your children use the pooja thali, then give a flower as an offering at the foot of the idol. At the end, don’t forget to collect your child’s MAI dollars to use at the next booth!
Booth 2: Dhantrayodashi and Lakshmi Pujan
The second day of Diwali is to worship Goddess Lakshmi - Goddess of wealth and God Dhanvantari – the God of Ayurved - or ‘health’. Lord Dhanvantari reminds us to eat seasonal fruits and veggies, make healthy choices and take care of our body.This day is to be thankful for good health and all of our wealth! It is said that dhanatrayodashi is a good day to buy something new which symbolizes the start of new beginnings and inviting prosperity into the household!
Lakshmi Pujan is performed to worship the Goddess Lakshmi who loves light, so lamps (diya) and lanterns are lit, rangoli patterns are drawn outside homes as a sign of welcome.
Simulation activity: have your child visit MAI jewelers to buy their gold coin to symbolize buying something as an auspicious action on Dhanatrayodashi. Next, they can proceed “home” to Lakshmi pooja where they can place the gold coin in the gold plate in front of Lakshmi. They can then do Namaskar and say thank you to Goddess Lakshmi! If they’re old enough, they can choose 2-3 things to be thankful for!
Booth 3: Narak Chaturdashi
The third day of Diwali is a reminder for making good choices. There was once a monster Narkasur that made many bad choices and bullied others. God Krishna showed him the consequences of making bad choices. This day, we clean our homes, decorate them, feast together as families and crush a bitter fruit called ‘Kaarit’ or 'करटूलं' as a symbol of giving up wrong choices. We wake up early before the sun comes up, apply a special cleansing scrub called ‘utna’ and then take a shower.
Simulation Activity: For this activity we have grinch mesh balls to symbolize ‘kaarit”. After explaining the meaning behind crushing “kaarit”, have your child take one, put it on the ground, and step on it! (Please place the ball back once done). Next you and your child can proceed to the utna station where you can apply (if you wish to) a small symbolic dab of utna to your child, and wipe it off with a wet wipe! Alternately, you can just explain to them what it is.
Booth 4: Puppet show
Phew! That was a lot of learning!
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Booth 4 is all about entertainment! Come join us every ~20 mins for a 3-5 min showing of our MAI Diwali Puppet Show! Here kids can enjoy watching a puppet family navigate around Diwali and learn about the history of Diwali!
Booth 5: Padwa & Bhaubeej
The last two days of Diwali celebrate family. Husbands and wives bring each other gifts and appreciate each other. Siblings (brothers, sisters) all make gifts for each other and pray for a long healthy happy life for everyone. Families get together and have meals and special snacks made with seasonal ingredients for Diwali.
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Simulation Activity:
Padwa: A special one for the adults! Wives perform the Padwa ritual using the ovalnicha taat while husbands sit in the chair. Afterward, husbands gift their wives something, here, they can write a sweet note on the provided cards, slip it into an envelope, and give it to her.
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Bhau Beej: This activity for the interest of this event will be gender neutral. Similar to padwa, one child will sit on the chair while the other will perform the ritual with the “ovalnicha taat”. The child who is sitting can reach into the gift bag and pick one item to give the other child. They can then switch roles and repeat!
Booth 6: Community Diwali activity!
At booth six, family members can all come together to color a piece of our Rangoli puzzle! Once you are done coloring, please hand it over to a MAI volunteer where they will place it in the correct corresponding spot. In the end, all of the pieces will come together to make one beautiful Community Rangoli design!
