Diwali is known as the festival of lights. People light diya lamps to welcome the Hindu god Rama. They also light the lamps in the hope that Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, will visit their homes.

Diyas are usually made from clay or earthenware. Ghee or oil is used as the fuel and cotton as the wick.

Why not try making your own diya from air dried clay.

For safety reasons you should not use Ghee or oil to light it, but a tea-light will look equally as beautiful when lit.

You will need:

Air drying clay
Sequins and beads to decorate
Tea-light candle
PVA glue and paint (optional).

Mould the clay into a cup shape. You can use the bottom of a cup or glass to help you get the shape right.

Pinch a spout into one side of your cup shape.

Decorate your diya whilst the clay is still wet. Add sequins and beads around the outside.

If you want to paint your diya. Wait until the clay is dry and then paint your design onto the outside. Use PVA glue to stick sequins and beads on once the paint has dried. If you want a shiny surface to your diya you can paint the glue all over and when it dries it will leave a lovely shiny surface.

Once everything is completely dried, place your tea-light in the diya ready to light at Diwali.

SAFETY

Always ask an adult to light the tea-light.

Once the tea-light is lit, keep it out of the reach of young children and do not leave it burning unless there is an adult in the room.

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