Rocking Paper Diya – Doodle Art for Diwali
A wonderful art project/ doodle project for Diwali. We love making cultural crafts for kids at home and students in the classroon. Today we make an interactive rocking paper Diya – combing doodle art with Diwali themes. A lovely Diwali Decoration for kids to make!

What is a Diya?
As the festival of lights, Diwali themes, include traditional “diyas”. A diya is small traditional oil lamp, usually made from clay and used during sacred festivals in the Indian subcontinent, particularly Diwali. Diya themed crafts are therefore perfect for the Diwali season.
This paper diya is super easy and fun to make. It gives students of all ages an abilities a chance to explore colors and shapes. Teachers can even turn this into a dice game – e.g. throw a six, use orange/ make a circle etc (though art dice not included in this resource). Old students can turn these into black & white mandal patterns for a more grown up feel.
What does this doodle art Diya Resource include?
The resource also includes a format that allows printing onto colorful card – e.g. the candle shape onto yellow card (students can color in the orange) and the Diya candle base onto any colorful card – which you could then decorate with shape stickers, glitter or gems!
This Diya candle also “rocks” – so it is super fun to play with. But can also be used as bulletin board Diwali decorations! Don’t have card? Use the worksheet as a basis to make this craft using paper plates instead!
Classroom objectives for making this Diwali craft
- Seasonal fun/ cultural activity for the Diwali season and celebrating Hindu culture
- Cutting skills
- Reading and following instructions
- Exploring shapes and colors.
Supplies needed to make your Doodle Diya

You can make this doodle diya as a paper plate diya too! Simply follow the instructions below (you will need to cut out your own, slightly larger Diya Flame though)
- Light card to print the templates (or print on paper and stick to card)
- Colorful marker pens, stickers, paints, gems
- Scissors & glue (to attach flame)
This arty diya craft for Diwali has a set of printable templates – a full set including, lesson plan, (ad free) worksheets and templates – a plain circle, a layer circle to for easier pattern making and print to colorful card versions, if working with stickers, gems and glue. This is available on both Teacher’s Pay Teachers and Gumroad. Of course, we also have a free template for Red Ted Art readers.


Rocking Diya Craft – Doodle Art Project for Diwali

Print the template onto light card. If no light card to hand, stick the template to recycled card, such as a cereal box.
The template can also be printed onto colored card – e.g. the flames onto yellow card etc.
Cut out your shapes.
As mentioned you can make this as a paper plate diya too. Paper plates are ideal for this craft, as they have a natural rim to guide you when coloring! You may however need to add a little tape to the inside of your folded paper plate diya, to stop it springing open!

Fold the large circle in half. You can decorate both sides if you wish, or just one half.

Get arty and have fun doodling with colors and shapes.
Alternatively if you wish, you can use paper cut outs, stickers, gems and glitter glue! Have fun decorating which ever method your choose!

Fold the flames in half.
Glue the top half together.

Add glue to the bottom half and pop over the centre of your diya (see image).
Secure.


Your arty diya for Diwali is finished! As you can see, I left the reverse of this particular paper diy “blank”… but you could do a different pattern on the other side. And as the candle is designed to fold over both halves, both sides can be used and enjoyed!

The best bit? You can make it rock and play with it!
Alternatively add It to your classroom bulletin board or classroom door as décor!
Remember you can get the full resource – plus “print to colored card” versions on Gumroad and TPT:

We have more fantastic classroom Diwali resources, including this 3 in 1 paper Diya Card, Garland and bulletin decoration!:

Check out our full set of Diwali Resources for Kids here:
