DIY This Holiday Season By Chahna Tailor
Tis the season to celebrate! Okay, so this is not another article on why we celebrate Diwali. Instead, I’m going to talk about how to make it fun. As we approach the holiday season, it’s a great opportunity to educate the future generation. The alternative is that their views on Indian heritage will be shaped by the first page of Google.
Sometimes our children are more interested in the holidays that their friends celebrate than the ones their parents celebrate. The challenge is to engage them but a little creativity 
goes a long way. Diwali was always “the festival of lights,” and that was the extent of my knowledge. Then Diwali became more tangible when, one year, my dad brought home clay and we all gathered around to make our own clay diyas. For us, that was the year that Diwali came alive. It was a fun activity and little did we know, but there was a hidden agenda. While we were having fun, my parents took the opportunity to sneak in stories of Diwali. Over the years, this has become a family tradition.
Here are some more ideas. Use colored powder or colored rice to create beautiful rangoli designs. Another popular festival is Navaratri and the best part is the Dandiya Raas. But instead of buying dandiyas, why not make them?
Interested in these simple DIY crafts? For the diya, you can purchase the clay and paint from Michaels or AC Moore. The rangoli powder can be purchased at Indian stores. Or, you can use your children’s paint to make colored rice. You can also make paper stencils for the rangoli designs giving you extra time together. The dandiya can be made using ¾” round dowel from Home Depot. The ribbon to decorate dandiyas can be purchased at Joanne’s Fabric or Walmart.
Fun group activities create an avenue for communication. If you have grandparents, aunts, and uncles nearby, invite them over to celebrate with you! The more, the merrier!
About the Author
Chahna Tailor is a certified yoga instructor with backgrounds in occupational therapy and health science. Occupational therapy opened up the doors of knowledge when it came to taking care of the Self first and leading a healthier life. This led her to the physical practice of yoga. Chahna deepened her practice by training in Rishikesh, India, where she studied the science behind yoga, the breath, and meditation. Chahna also practices personal training, Reiki, hypnotherapy, aromatherapy, pranichealing, and sound healing.
