Navratri and Dussehra are two of India’s most vibrant and meaningful festivals. These celebrations are filled with stories of courage, devotion, victory, and the triumph of truth over evil. For children, festivals are also a beautiful opportunity to learn about tradition through fun, hands-on activities. Engaging kids with crafts, storytelling, dance, and simple rituals helps them connect with our culture in an enjoyable and memorable way.
If you’re looking for creative ways to involve your child this festive season, here is a detailed list of 21 Navratri and Dussehra activities and crafts that are perfect for kids of all ages. These ideas blend learning with creativity while keeping the essence of the festival alive.
Understanding Navratri and Dussehra
Before jumping into the activities, it’s wonderful to help kids understand the meaning behind the celebrations.
Navratri means “Nine Nights”. These nine days are dedicated to the worship of nine forms of the Goddess, each symbolizing strength, purity, protection, and divine energy. Families decorate their homes, perform prayers, prepare special foods, and enjoy dance forms like Garba and Dandiya.
Dussehra, celebrated on the 10th day after Navratri, marks the triumph of good over evil. It symbolizes:
- The victory of Lord Rama over Ravana
- The triumph of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura
- The success of truth and righteousness
Helping children understand these stories makes the celebrations more meaningful, and the activities listed below are designed to make learning fun.
21 Navratri & Dussehra Activities and Crafts for Kids
1. DIY Navratri Dandiya Sticks
Decorating dandiya sticks is one of the easiest ways to get kids excited about the festivities. Provide wooden dowels or rolled newspaper sticks and let children wrap them with colorful ribbons, glitter tape, sequins, and beads. Kids love using their decorated dandiyas during Garba at home.
2. Learn Basic Garba & Dandiya Steps
Play upbeat Navratri music and teach your kids simple Garba and Dandiya steps. Start with slow foot movements, claps, and circles. It encourages coordination, rhythm, and physical activity while introducing them to traditional dance forms.
3. Create a Simple Ramayana Puppet Set
Children can make paper puppets of key Ramayana characters like Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman, and Ravana. Using chart paper, ice-cream sticks, and basic shapes, kids can create their own storytelling set and enact scenes from the epic.Print or hand-draw simple outlines of dandiya dancers, diyas, Goddess Durga symbols, lotus flowers, or Ravana’s ten heads. Coloring activities improve fine motor skills and are ideal for preschoolers.
5. Make a Ravana Mask
Help children create a colorful Ravana mask using cardboard, vibrant papers, and paints. Add ten heads or draw ten faces in a row. This craft helps kids understand the symbolism of defeating ego and negativity.
6. Clay or Play-Dough Ramayana Characters
Soft clay allows children to mold mini-figures from the epic. They can make tiny bows, crowns, lions, lotus flowers, or demon figures. This boosts creativity and story recall.
7. Navratri Day-Wise Color Chart
Introduce your child to the nine colors associated with Navratri. Create a simple chart with colored papers or stickers and display it at home. Every day, kids can match their outfit to the festival color.
8. DIY Durga Puja Thali Decoration
Give children a basic plate and let them decorate it with lace, mirrors, beads, paper flowers, and colors. The decorated thali can be used for festive rituals at home.
9. Make Your Own Festive Toran
Kids can create a toran (door hanging) using paper leaves, marigold-colored pom-poms, beads, and thread. Hanging the toran at the entrance symbolizes welcoming positivity and festive energy.
10. Storytime: The Victory of Good Over Evil
Narrate child-friendly stories such as:
- Goddess Durga’s courage
- Rama’s perseverance
- The symbolism of Ravana’s ten heads
- The importance of truth and righteousness
You can let kids draw scenes after listening to the stories.
11. Navratri Rangoli for Kids
Provide kids with colored powder, chalk, flowers, or paper cutouts to make simple rangoli patterns. Start with circles, dots, triangles, or swirls.
12. Make Festive Greeting Cards
Teach children how to create Navratri and Dussehra greeting cards for family and friends. They can draw goddess symbols, dandiya sticks, Ravana, or lotus flowers. Add glitter, stickers, or handprints for decoration.
13. Build a Mini Ravan Effigy
Using paper, sticks, and old boxes, children can create a small Ravana effigy. Once complete, you can symbolically “defeat negativity” by discussing good habits they want to adopt.
14. Paper Plate Durga Face Craft
A paper plate can be turned into a simple Goddess Durga face craft. Kids can paint it in gold, draw expressive eyes, and decorate with paper jewelry.
15. Navratri-Themed DIY Bookmarks
Children can make bookmarks featuring trishul symbols, dandiya sticks, or Durga motifs. These bookmarks are great gifts for teachers or friends.
16. Dress-Up Day in Traditional Outfits
Kids love dress-up activities. Let them pick bright ethnic clothes matching the Navratri color of the day. You can teach them the meaning behind each color as they dress up.
17. Make a Simple Garba Puppet
Create a dancing puppet with moving arms and legs using split pins and colored card paper. Kids can make a boy or girl puppet dressed in traditional attire.
18. DIY “Good Over Evil” Chart
Help children write or draw two columns:
Good qualities (truth, kindness, courage)
Bad qualities (anger, lying, jealousy)
This is a meaningful way to introduce moral concepts.
19. Navratri Paper Lantern Craft
Create colorful hanging lanterns with stripes, shapes, and mirror-cut designs. These lanterns brighten up home décor instantly.
20. Decorate a Small Home Temple Space
Let children help clean and decorate the prayer space using flowers, paper garlands, battery candles, or diyas (supervised). This teaches responsibility and devotion.
21. Do a Family Festive Cleanup Day
Explain the tradition of cleaning the home before the festival. Kids can help:
- Organize toys
- Arrange books
- Dust shelves
- Donate old items
This activity teaches discipline and the value of gratitude.
Final Thoughts
Navratri and Dussehra are more than festivals—they are celebrations of culture, values, energy, and togetherness. Introducing children to these traditions through storytelling, dance, crafts, and meaningful activities helps them appreciate the richness of Indian heritage. The 21 activities above offer simple ways for families to bond, explore creativity, and celebrate the vibrant spirit of the season.
