Fun Durga Puja, Navratra and Dussehra Crafts and Activities for Kids – Free printables inside

Looking for some handmade Dussehra crafts, Durga puja activities, Navratri activities for preschoolers, Navratri craft for preschool kids? You can also use these ideas to decorate your house with some beautiful handmade things !!

 Here are some really good Diwali decoration ideas, Dussehra crafts, Navratri activities for preschoolers and Durga puja craft ideas for kids – preschoolers, kindergartens as well as old kids. Free printable also included.

Check all the lovely craft ideas below. I am sure you will love them all and would love to give them a try. We have also  carefully selected Best rated Dussehra toys for kids

Important >> We are sending our paid Diwali Dussehra worksheets set for FREE. If interested participate here

All the mentioned Navratri, Dussehra, and Durga puja crafts are easy to make and super quick crafts. Doing these crafts and activities together gives us conversation starters with kids in which we can talk to them about Indian festivals. How they are celebrated and involve them in the festivities using crafts and activities.

Try these fun and educational activities with kids  and decorate your lovely home this festive season.  You can also read about Why do we celebrate Dussehra and various stories associated with it in later part of the article

Apart from above crafts and hand on activities – You can also use printables as an opportunity to talk to your kids about our festivals and work on various educational concepts simultaneously.

TRENDING >> – Best Diwali gift ideas for kids (based on toys that have actually worked for me during this corona virus situation)

We have included a link to download worksheets to help you get started with the conversation towards the end of this article.

If you are in a hurry you can get them from here – Click here to Download FREE printables for kids

✅ Navratri activities for preschoolers and Durga Puja Dussehra crafts for kids

Check out this amazing toy that we love on Dussehra. Click here to see as I chanced upon it by mistake and loved it

Make Kalash Wall Hanging – DIY Dussehra decoration

Check this beautiful Kalash Wall Hanging made with glittered foam sheets, beads, and glitter tubes. All you need to do is get some glitter sheets, cut them in Kalash shape, and then decorate it with decorations available at home.

You can check out these coloured glittery foam sheets online, they have good reviews and will be suitable.

You can make many beautiful Kalash and can decorate them in your home or you can make multiple colorful Kalash and can make a beautiful Toran also known as Bandhanwar with them.

So get ready to decorate your home with handmade wall hangings and bandhanwar this festive season.

This is an excellent idea for Dussehra activities in school and nursery classes. The decoration can later be used to decorate the preschool school board on Dussehra or Diwali.

DIY Swastik and Om Bandhanwar for home decor -Easy Dussehra craft for preschool and home decor

Try this lovely Swastik and Om beautiful toran, you can hang it on your doors during the festive season.

What you need to make this beautiful toran is colored glittered foam sheets, satin ribbon, and glue.

So why wait!! grab the materials and give it a try.

If you are in a hurry, and you want to buy Bandhanwars you can get beautiful ones online. This one has great reviews. Avoid buying ones like these as one of their primary materials is plastic.

Apart from DIY home decorations in festive season, this is also an excellent idea for Dussehra activities in school and nursery classes. The decorations can later be used as Dussehra decoration in school.

DIY Dandiya Sticks (Navratri craft for Preschool idea)

We all love to play Dandiya and Garba during the festive season. Why buy Dandiya sticks from the market when we can make our beautiful dandiya sticks at home!!

All we need is sticks and glittery tape.

Wrap the glittery tape around the sticks and you will be ready to play with these DIY quick Dandiya sticks made by you at home.

Another decoration idea instead of glittery tapes is to use satin ribbon, you can also make some satin ribbon flowers and can paste them on dandiya sticks or can paste some beads.

So get ready to have some real fun with these dandiya sticks. Get ready in your traditional attire and go out and play Dandiya 🙂

This can be done at home as well is an excellent idea for Navratri activities for preschoolers and school board decoration ideas for preschools.

Just jazz up the dandiya sticks and display them in school boards. Its an easy activity so can also be done by kids in Nursery and kindergarten.

Durga Puja and Dusshera Wall Hanging – wall decorations

Try this simple paper wall hanging this Durga puja to decorate it in your house.

Draw simple Durga maa symbols on paper, colour them and paste them together to make a wall hanging.

We saw these on Pinterest and wanted to make our own reusable wall hanging using this idea.

How to make Dussehra and Durga maa craft wall hanging

Ravana Face Mask (Takeaway craft for Dussehra)

Try this simple and cute Ravana face mask this Dussehra. This is an excellent Dussehra activity for nursery class. Involve young kids in pasting stickers and decorating the crown.

You need some coloured chart papers, glittered lace, some stickers and glue and you will be ready to make this cute Ravana face mask.

This is an excellent prop when telling Ramayana story for kids can be a takeaway for Dussehra from schools)

You would also enjoy this Indian paper craft kit toy. Check it out here

DIY Ravana with Papercups

This simple Ravana with paper cups is an innovative idea from Shashi, @ our FB group – Kids crafts, DIY, early learning, Parenting.

How to make Ravana craft with paper cups?

Colour two coffee cups, alternatively you may also wrap colour paper .

Tie them together with a cellotape with their bottoms facing each other( one on top of the other).

Cut a thin slit on the upper cup , so you may pass through the hands.

Decorate the cups with coloured glittered cellotapes.

Cut a narrow strip of hard paper and pass it through the slit. Paste the sword and shield made of colored paper.On either side of the hands.

This completes the body of Ravan.

Colour another cup and place it on the body of the ravan and tie it with a cello tape.

Make nose, eyes, and mustache on the face.

Cut a slit on the head to pass through the hard paper on which the remaining nine faces are drawn. Make a crown with golden foam paper and stick on the head. Your DIY Ravan is ready

Hanuman Face Mask

Try this simple and quick Hanuman paper face mask.

Hanuman ji played very important role in Ramayana, so while reading the story behind Dussehra, why do we celebrate it and how we celebrate it you can use this mask, it will add more fun to your reading.

This is an excellent Dussehra activity in school and for kindergartens. These masks can also be used in Ramleela skits in schools.

Elephant mask for fun play

Elephants are an integral part of Mysore Dussehra. This Elephant mask or Ganesha mask can be used for fun play.

Wonderful mask idea by Shashi Anurag Mishra, winner of creative craft idea in our FB group – Kids crafts, DIY, early learning, Parenting.

Do not forget to download FREE Ganesha worksheets for kids

Mysore Dussehra Elephant Paper Craft

Try this super simple and super quick elephant craft (part of Mysore Dussehra celebration) with your kids.

Make an elephant with foam sheet and do some dot painting and you will have this lovely craft to decorate it in your home this festive season.

Elephant Decoration Activity

Elephant decoration or elephant caparison is worn by an elephant during festivities in the face.

This activity done by Reema Shaw and featured in our FB group Kids crafts, DIY, early learning, Parenting is a mini model of the same.

Mysore Dussehra Elephant Dot Painting

Below is a beautiful craft made with dot painting. This is not for small kids but as I loved the ideas this sharing with you all. Would love to try it and decorate it in home.

Dussehra Rangoli ideas

You can make beautiful Rangoli designs with flowers on Dussehra.  Traditionally Rangoli was made with coloured rice, dry flour, flower petals, turmeric (Haldi), Vermilion (Sindoor) and coloured sand.

Try avoiding artificial colours as they pollute the environment when disposed.

Rangoli designs can be made of patterns – geometric shapes and patterns, peacocks, flower petals, motifs and a lot more.

Dussehra decoration with paper flowers or Foam flowers

Paper flowers and Foam flowers can be used to brighten up home any time of the year.

You can use them to put in Vase or in wall hanging, or lace them to make torans and garlands. You can make paper roses or simple flowers, based on your choice.

How to make easy foam flowers

How to make crepe paper flowers

Make handmade paper bags

The festive season is the time to give gifts to loved ones. This Dussehra ditch plastic packaging and make paper bags or learn how to wrap gifts with eco-friendly materials

Learn how to make paper bags

Beautiful Dussehra Home decorations that you can get online

I know its difficult make everything in your own during festive season so have include items that you can get online (this is a curated list of unique home decor items that have great reviews)

Click here to see hand picked items you can get on Diwali or Dussehra (they are all with good reviews)

✅Dussehra Books you can read with your kids to explain them significance of Dussehra, Navratra and Durga Puja

Check full list of Dussehra books along with frequently asked questions in Dussehra answered here

✅ Dussehra toys for kids

Nowadays there are multiple themed toys and craft kits that are available for kids.

I am listing out what I really liked for my kid for Dussehra to talk to him about Ramayana, introduce our gods and play games based on Ramayans theme.

In a hurry – Click here to see the full list

Hanuman toys for kids

I liked these Hanuman toys for kids. This one here has good reviews (not multiple but at least few good reviews are better than nothing). And this Hanuman Gada is something that each kid would love 🙂

Bow and arrow for kids

I also liked these bow and arrow for kids. I still remember going to Ram leela and Dussehra mela and picking up bows and arrows and masks when I was a kid.

Ramayana Toys for kids

I also liked these Ramayana board game. Has good reviews so worth getting this Dussehra.

Mysore Dasara Golu set for kids

Mysore Dasara Golu set is also something that is interesting for kids – click here to check it out. I also loved these traditional dolls
Click here to see carefully selected Best rated Dussehra toys for kids

What is Dussehra Festival (also called VijayaDashmi) ?

Vijayadashami ,also known as Dussehra, Durga puja or Navrathri is a major Hindu festival which is celebrated in almost all parts of India. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October.

(From Wikipedia)

Why do we celebrate Dussehra?

Vijaya Dashami marks the victory of good over evil. It was on this day that Lord Rama killed ten headed, Ravana. The word Dashara is derived from two Sanskrit words – dasha (ten) and hara (defeat). People celebrate by burning the effigies of Ravana.

VijayaDashami also marks the victory of Mother Durga over the demon Mahishasura. The nine days preceding Vijaya Dashami are celebrated as Navaratri, when Goddess Shakti or Durga is worshipped in her different forms .

How do we celebrate Dussehra festival in different parts across India?

Durga Puja Festival

Durga puja is is the biggest festival in Kolkata. Exquisitely crafted and decorated life-size sculptures of Goddess Durga slaying Mahishasura are set up in the temples for worship for five-days . On the fifth day, these sculptures are taken in a procession and then immersed in the river.

Navratri

Navratri is major festival of India celebrated in all parts of country for 9 nights and 10 days. The festive Pooja is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her different forms.
Poojas are done for these nine days celebrating the victory of Goddess Durga over demon   Mahishasura . Every day Pooja is done praising each avatar wearing particular color.

Dussehra Golu

In South India, especially in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka, the Navaratri is celebrated with Golu display/Kolu/ Bombe Habba (a multi step display of dolls representing various parts from the Puranas, royal processions, weddings, etc.).

We saw a beautiful arrangement by Deepika in our Facebook group and thus I invited her to tell us a little bit more about it. And below is what she explained 🙂

“In south India – during these nine days (Navratras)  ladies perform Pooja for Goddess and arrange beautiful bommai display, called as different names as Bommai Kou – Tamil Nadu (divine presence) ; Bommala Koluvu  – Telugu (Court of Toys) & Bombe Habba-  Kannada (doll festival).

We arrange the dolls on Mahalaya Amavasai in odd steps (3, 5, 7 , 9 or 11).  These steps are depicted are evolution ladder we are travelling through journey of life  The Kolu padi is covered with fabric and various dolls depicting Puranas, court life, royal procession, day to day scenes, wedding, kitchen utensils, animals , farming , etc. are arranged.

It’s a traditional practice to have wooden dolls called “Marapacchi Bommai” figurines of bride and bridegroom. In some homes they do pass Dolls to their daughter’s during their marriage, so they can start practicing Golu celebration for Navratri.

Kalasam/Copper pot filled with rice and is covered with coconut is placed in either lower or upper step based on tradition of each family. Idols of Gods and Goddess are published either side of Kalasam. Golu can be kept for odd days 3, 5 , 7 or 9 based on their convenience.

In evenings women invite ladies from their friend’s circle and neighborhood to view kolu. They exchange sweets and gifts. Shlokas and songs are chanted praising God and Goddess, by ladies and young girls.

Theme arrangement:

Instead of arranging dolls randomly few families try to step up their Kolu every year in a particular theme such as different sports(cricket football, tennis basketball etc in dolls), people around us (hospital, fire station, farming, school, street dancing, etc.) or may be different types of wedding from various states and cultures (Kerala, Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil culture etc. )

Nowadays various magazines and mass media are conducting competition for best Golu display.

Not only at homes Golu’s are displayed in larger size in (21 steps) temples too !

Mysore Dasara Festival

The City of Mysoru in Karnataka, has a 400 year long tradition of celebrating Dasara festival with great splendour. The Mysore palace is illuminated these nine days and There will be a grand procession in which Goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) is carried on a golden throne which is mounted atop a decorated elephant. Elephants are an integral part of Mysire Dasara Festival thus we have few included few crafts on those above.

The procession comprising of colorful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels.

Vijaya Dashami is considered auspicious to begin your learning. The traditional Vidyarambham ceremony observed mainly in Kerala and Karnataka introduces children formally to learning of music, dance, languages and other folk arts.

Another celebration on this occasion in Kerala and in some parts of Karnataka is the three-day Saraswati puja in which books are worshiped.

So much to tell about a festival… 🙂

Hope you have liked the above Dussehra craft ideas !!Don’t forget to pin it..

While making these crafts and while decorating your house you can discuss the significance of Dussehra, how do we celebrate it, the story of Ramayana etc.

You can check the books above you can read with your kids on occasion of Durga puja and Dussehra.

Free Diwali Dussehra and Durga puja activities printable and Coloring sheets

Apart from above crafts and hand on activities – You can also use printables as an opportunity to talk to your kids about our festivals and work on various educational concepts simultaneously. Here are some worksheets to help you get started with the conversation.

Loved the way little Mahika has colored and decorated the crown of Durga Maa from our activity sheet.

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