For Bengalis, Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the year. The festival is a ten-day festival, of which the last five are the most important. The festival is famous for the elaborately artistic idols, the decorative pandals and extravagant festivities. The festival is also marked by performance arts, gift giving, family visits and feasts. According to mythology, the festival marks the victory of goddess Durga in her battle against the shape-shifting demon, Mahishasura. Durga Puja is celebrated as Navaratri and Dussehra celebrations in other regional traditions. On Dussehra, the Ram Lila dance-drama is enacted, celebrating the victory of Rama against Ravana, and effigies of Ravana are burnt.
Things you can do with your little one for this Durga Puja include storytelling, drawing and craft activities and theatre activities. Feel free to decrease or upgrade the complexity level of the suggested activities according to the age of your child. You can also get our Dussehra Activities Worksheets for Kids which combines learning and Dussehra fun.
Know More about the Festival
An important aspect of festivals is that they are great opportunities to acquaint our children with our rich culture, diversity, and universal messages of goodness and righteous paths. There are many books that help us tell mythological and religious stories to kids as well as books to familiarize them with Indian culture.
Here are some amazing books that children will enjoy on the themes of Durga Puja and Navaratri.
This is a lovely story of a little girl, in the backdrop of Navaratri:
This is another Navaratri themed story of a little girl Bhoomi, with lovely illustrations and a sweet story.
Story Telling & Crafts
Regardless of our religious faith and personal beliefs, the religions and mythologies of the world are important components of the history and culture of the world. Whether you want your child to follow your family traditions or you want them to be a nuanced and balanced global citizen, it is desirable to educate them about the festivals, lores, and mythology.
Children particularly enjoy the small stories related to Durga, Durga's children (especially of Ganesha), Ram and Ravana, and stories of gods and goddesses with the central theme of victory of good over evil. Depending on the child's age and personality, the details of the battles can be toned down and language can be mellowed down to match their language. If you would like to brush up your own knowledge of Hindu mythological stories, a one-stop solution is getting a paperback (or kindle) version of Amar Chitra Katha stories, which even the children can read when they are a bit older. Some websites like this also have such stories.
Below is a picture of the stick puppet props I made to tell the story of Durga-Mahishasura and Ram-Ravana.
Dussehra/Navaratra Rangoli Art
Rangoli is an art form that has been cherished for generations in India. During festivities, intricate and vibrant designs are meticulously crafted on the ground or courtyard outside homes using materials like colored powders, rice grains, and even flower petals. These intricate patterns not only serve as a form of decoration but also hold deep cultural significance. They are believed to invite prosperity and ward off negativity. Rangoli can also be a group activity, and rangoli competitions are also held in schools and colleges. Rangoli is a beautiful way to promote a sense of togetherness and creativity within communities. It is a great idea to introduce the art of rangoli to kids during the Navaratri. Here are some easy ways to make rangoli designs.
You can find many rangoli related products on Amazon here:
You can also get a rangoli powder starter kit like these:
Golu Doll Making for Dussehra Activities for Kids
One of its unique traditions of Navaratri in the southern parts of India is setting up a display known as "Golu" or "Kolu." During Navaratri, families arrange a stunning staircase-like display filled with a beautiful assortment of dolls and figurines. These dolls represent various deities, mythological characters, and everyday life scenes, creating a miniature world of wonder.
The Golu display isn't just about showcasing these beautiful dolls; it's a way to foster a sense of spirituality, creativity, and storytelling. Families often invite friends and relatives to their homes to admire their Golu arrangement, exchange stories, and seek blessings during this festive season. Here are some ideas on how to make Golu dolls.
You can get readymade Golu dolls like this to create your own Golu dolls corner:
Durga and Navaratri Themed Drawing
Drawing activities of this month can include simple drawing of Goddess Durga.
Here are some ideas:
Here is a colouring activity we did!
More Craft Activities
Make easy roller tube crafts to recreate the Durga-Asura battle or Ram-Ravana battle characters. Here are some more ideas:
Below is a picture of Ravana we made.
Learning Activities
Festivals are a great opportunity to learn new words, colours, and about religion and culture. Here are some activities we loved.
Shanaya learned about the weapons of Maa Durga and the virtue each weapon represents by matching them with names and placing them on Durga’s hands.
Shanaya enjoyed knowing about the nine incarnations of the goddess Durga which are celebrated during Navratri and matching them with the colors associated with each.
Durga puja vocabulary!
Theatre Activity
Finally, the dramatic stories of festivals are easy plots to adopt for a fun and silly play-acts. The play can be enacted in the living room area, using household things and clothes that you already have as props and costumes. Ram Ravana's battle, Durga battling the asura, and any of the hundreds of scenes from these stories can be chosen. Choose small events and scenes and just have a hilarious time acting the scene out.
I hope you this post gave you a lot of ideas to plan few activities for your child to celebrate the wonderful festival!! You can also check out this blog for some great ideas. Happy Durga Puja!
Message us know more about the Playful Home Education Dussehra Printable Worksheets!
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