Crafts to Celebrate Dussehra

Dussehra is the final day of the Hindu Navaratri festival. It is celebrated in the northern part of India on the tenth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu autumn month of Ashvin. The holiday commemorates the victory of Lord Rama, the legendary Hindu prince, over Ravana, the ruler of Lanka. Dussehra, also known as Dashehra or Dasara, is a sacred and joyous event.

If you would like to teach your children a bit about Dussehra and the history of the holiday, you can do so by way of crafts. Below are several fun crafts you can make to celebrate Dussehra.

Dussehra Craft - Teer-Dhanush (Bow and Arrow): No Dussehra celebration is complete without Teer-Dhanush, an integral part of the Ram Lila dramatic performances. You can make your own Teer-Dhanush using a branch and a rubber band. Find a strong yet supple branch from any tree. Make sure you can bend it without it breaking. Then get a wide rubber band and cut it so it's one long piece. Have one person bend the branch until it forms an arc like a bow. Have the other person tie one end of the rubber band to each end of the branch. You can then paint the bow or decorate it as you wish. You can also make arrows using other small branches. Just be careful that the arrows are not too pointed. You can also use wooden skewers as arrows, but they are pointed and any child using skewer arrows needs to be supervised.

Dussehra Craft - Clay Candle Holder: Candles are a must have for any Dussehra festival. You can make your own Navaratri candle holders to celebrate the holiday. To make the clay, mix 1 plus 1/4 cup of flour, 3/4 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and 1 plus 1/4 cup of salt in a mixing bowl and blend well together using your hands. Form the mixture into a soft dough ball. If the dough is too stiff, add a bit of water. If it's too sticky, add a bit more flour. Knead it for several minutes. Then roll out a ball of dough then press it into any shape such as a heart, a star, a circle, a square, etc. Just make sure the shape you created is at least 3 inches thick. Then stick a taper candle into the clay to form a hole. Remove the candle and bake the clay at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool. When cool, you can paint the candle holder any color you want. You can also add glue glitter, sequins or glass tiles to the candle holder for a more authentic look. Then place the candle back into the hole.

For gift ideas to celebrate the the festival, see this article: Gift Ideas for the Durga Puja Festival