Our first rangoli lasted about four minutes before the cat walked through it. The second one we made out of paper, which, it turns out, cats find much less interesting. I’ve been a fan of paper rangoli ever since.
These are the Diwali crafts for kids we come back to every year, sorted by age, with free templates for the paper diyas, the rangoli, a lantern and a door hanging. They work at home and in a classroom, and none of them needs a real flame. Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November this year, and the festival runs over five days, from Friday 6 to Wednesday 11 November.
What Is Diwali?
Here’s a short version you can read out to kids.
Diwali is the festival of lights. It’s celebrated by Hindu, Sikh and Jain families, and by some Buddhists, in India and all over the world. People light rows of little clay lamps called diyas, decorate their doorways with colorful patterns called rangoli, share sweets, wear new clothes and watch fireworks. Families tell different stories about why Diwali matters. Many Hindu families remember Lord Rama coming home after defeating the demon king Ravana, with people lighting lamps to welcome him. Sikh families celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day, remembering Guru Hargobind being freed from prison. What they share is the idea of light winning over darkness.
Diwali Crafts for Kids Ages 3 to 5
1. Paper Plate Diya
Fold a paper plate in half and cut a curve along the top so it looks like a little clay lamp. Kids paint it orange or gold and stick on a paper flame from our template.
2. Handprint Diya Card
Paint your child’s palm orange and press it onto card with the fingers pointing up. Draw a flame on the thumb, and the hand becomes a diya. Write “Happy Diwali” inside.
3. Rangoli Coloring
Our big, simple rangoli template has wide spaces, so little ones can color it in or fill it with dot stickers. It’s the gentle way into rangoli before anything involving rice.
4. Paper Chain Lights
Cut strips of yellow, orange and gold paper and loop them into a chain. Hang it across a window and call it a string of Diwali lights. Kids get very proud of how long it gets.
Ages 6 to 8
5. Colored Rice Rangoli
Mix uncooked rice in zip-top bags with a few drops of food coloring and a splash of vinegar, shake, and spread it out on paper to dry. Then kids spread glue inside the sections of our rangoli template and sprinkle the rice on, one color at a time. Do it on a tray. Trust me on the tray.
6. Clay Diyas With LED Lights
Shape air-dry clay into small bowls, pinch a spout at one end and let them dry overnight. Kids paint them in bright colors and add dots. Put a battery tea light inside, not a real candle.
7. Paper Lantern (Kandil)
Our template folds into a star-shaped hanging lantern called a kandil, which you’ll see in many homes at Diwali. Cut it out, fold along the dashed lines, glue the tabs and hang it with string. Pop an LED tea light underneath and it glows.
8. Toran Door Hanging
A toran hangs across a doorway to welcome guests. Our template has paper leaves and flowers to color, cut out and glue along a ribbon or a strip of card. It’s a good one for a classroom door.
Ages 9 to 12
9. Chalk Rangoli
If you’ve got a path, a driveway or a patio, draw a big rangoli outside with chalk. Older kids can plan a symmetrical pattern on paper first, then scale it up. It washes away with the next rain, which is sort of the point.
10. Diwali Greeting Cards
Design a card with a pop-up diya or a rangoli border. Older kids can write “Shubh Deepavali”, which means “Happy Diwali”, and give the cards to friends and neighbors.
11. Mosaic Diya
Cut scraps of colored paper or old magazines into small squares and glue them onto our diya outline like tiles. It’s slow, fiddly and very satisfying.
12. Paper Fireworks Picture
Dip the end of a toilet roll tube, cut into a fringe, into paint and press it onto black paper. It makes a burst that looks like a firework. Layer a few colors for a whole sky. Much quieter than the real thing.
A Note on Lights and Flames
Lighting diyas is a lovely part of Diwali, and real clay lamps with oil and a wick should always be lit and watched by a grown-up. For anything a child has made, from paper diyas to clay diyas to the kandil, use battery tea lights. Paper and lamp flames don’t mix.
Doing This With a Class
If you’re a teacher planning a Diwali lesson (it’s a common RE topic in UK primary schools), the paper plate diya, rangoli coloring, toran and paper fireworks all work for a class of 30 with basic supplies. Read the “What is Diwali?” section out first. If any children in your class celebrate Diwali, they may love to tell everyone how their family does it, but let them choose.
Download the Free Templates
The free PDF has templates for these Diwali crafts for kids: the diya and flame shapes, two rangoli designs (a simple one and a detailed one), the kandil lantern, the toran leaves and flowers, and the mosaic diya outline. It prints on US Letter and A4.
Download the Free Printable
⬇ Download PDF (Free)More Festival Crafts
FAQs
When is Diwali in 2026?
The main day of Diwali is Sunday 8 November 2026. The festival lasts five days, from Friday 6 to Wednesday 11 November. The date moves each year because it follows the Hindu lunar calendar.
What crafts do kids make for Diwali?
The classics are diyas (little lamps), rangoli patterns, paper lanterns and torans (door hangings). Kids also make greeting cards and firework pictures. All twelve on this page come with a free template.
How do you make rangoli with kids?
Start with a printed rangoli design. Younger kids can color it in, and older kids can glue on colored rice, lentils or flower petals section by section. Outside, a chalk rangoli on a path is quick and washes away.
Is it safe for kids to light diyas?
Real diyas with oil and a flame should be lit and watched by a grown-up. For anything children have made, use battery tea lights instead. They’re just as cheerful and much safer near paper.
What are good Diwali crafts for preschoolers?
The paper plate diya, handprint diya card, rangoli coloring and paper chain lights are all good for ages 3 to 5. They need only paper, paint, glue and crayons. Keep rice and small pieces away from children under 3.
Are these Diwali crafts for kids free?
Yes. The templates are in one free PDF with no email form and no sign-up. Print as many as you need for home or a classroom.
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