Diwali for Kids: Yoga Poses to celebrate the Festival of Lights

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated in India in late fall. For five days, people from around the world join in celebrating the Hindu New Year. This year, Diwali will be celebrated from October 29th until November 3rd in India, but around the world, it will most likely be celebrated only for one day, on either the October 31st or November 1st.

Diwali is named after the Sanskrit word of “deepa,” which is “light,” and “vali,” which means “row,” essentially a row of lights. Families come together to celebrate this festive holiday by decorating their homes, giving gifts, lighting lamps, going to the mandir (temple), and enjoying fireworks. It is a time to offer prayers to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and to make intricate designs called rangolis on the floor with colored sand and rice flour.

My neighbor friend, Stuti, says:

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, marks the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It’s all about friends & family, with many families coming together to celebrate and share in the blessings of the festival and fosters a sense of community.

Homes are illuminated with diyas (oil lamps) to guide the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, into the household, bringing prosperity and fortune in the new year. People also decorate their homes, exchange gifts, and offer prayers to deities for health, wealth, and happiness.

My favorite part of Diwali is the fireworks!”

Photos courtesy of Stuti

Today, we’re going to celebrate Diwali by practicing yoga poses for kids to help us think about the special aspects of this Indian holiday.

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5 Yoga Poses to Celebrate Diwali with Kids

1. Pretend to be a sparkler.

How to practice Dancer’s Pose: Stand tall in Mountain Pose: Then stand on your right leg, reach your left leg out behind you, and place the outside of your left foot into your left hand. Bend your torso forward, with your right arm out in front for balance, and arch your leg up behind you. Pretend to be a glittery sparkler. Switch sides and repeat the steps.

Dancer's Pose for Kids | Kids Yoga Stories — Dancer’s Pose

2. Pretend to be a temple.

How to practice Downward-Facing Dog Pose: Step back to your hands and feet in an upside-down V shape, with your buttocks up in the air, and pretend to be a mandir (temple) or church, where people go to worship on Diwali.

Downward-Facing Dog Pose for Kids | Kids Yoga Stories — Downward-Facing Dog Pose

3. Pretend to be a flower.

How to practice Flower Pose:Come to sit on your buttocks with a tall spine, lift your bent legs, balance on your sitting bones, and weave your arms under your legs with your palms facing up. Pretend to be a blossoming lotus flower being created with colored sand into a rangoli pattern.

yoga poses for kids, easy kids yoga poses | Kids Yoga Stories — Flower Pose

4. Pretend to be a candle.

How to practice Half Shoulder Stand: Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, arms resting alongside your body, and chin tucked in. On an exhale, push your palms down and lift your legs straight up, making an L shape with your body. Stay in this position or squeeze your belly and raise your hips. Then bend your elbows and place your palms on your lower back for a half shoulder stand. Pretend your feet are the flickering flames and your legs are the candlesticks of an oil lamp, called a diya.

5. Pretend to be Lakshmi.

How to practice Easy Pose: Sit cross-legged and rest your palms on your knees. Close your eyes, if you are comfortable doing so. Pretend to be Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Think of ways you’d like to bring peace and joy into your life.

Easy Pose for Kids | Kids Yoga Stories — Easy Pose

Diwali Books for Kids

Your local library should have some great picture books on Diwali. My daughter and I were able to find at least a dozen books (both non-fiction and fiction) on Diwali to learn all about this special Indian holiday. Here are five of favorite fiction books:
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