Diwali is the five-day Festival of Lights and is traditionally celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and is perhaps the most well-known of the Hindu festivals. At Tops Day Nurseries, the children celebrated by taking part in a number of cultured activities.
The word Diwali means ‘rows of lighted lamps’. Diwali is known as the ‘festival of lights’ because houses, shops and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps called diyas. Children at Tops Newport had lots of fun decorating paper lanterns and making their own candle holders, using beads, sequins and glitter.
Also acclaimed as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is associated with lights, sweets, and liveliness; especially lights. As, it is celebrated on the new-moon (Amavasya) night, lights and fireworks have a significant role to play in this festival. This is why, when we heard the name Diwali, the first impression that flashes through our minds is of multi-coloured and impressive fireworks, sprinkling various sorts of bright coloured lights in the night sky. Although the tradition of fireworks on Diwali is not very old, still they have succeeded in becoming such a vital part of this festival that we can’t even imagine a wonderful Diwali without them. The children used spray bottles to create their own firework-themed masterpieces, and explored a bright, sparkling sensory tray.
To continue with the festival celebrations, the children created their own Rangoli patterns using pebbles, coloured sand, rice and paint. They also studied photographs in order to create their own henna tattoo designs on paper hands.
Children at Tops Portsmouth explored a communication friendly space, with a warm glow from star lights.
The children at Tops Parkstone made tea lights and explored different coloured rice, making their own patterns. Throughout the celebrations the children talked about colours and explored different textures.
