Janmashtami: 5 fun ways to involve your kids in celebrations
What's the story
Children are often fascinated by the mischievous and amusing tales from Lord Krishna's childhood.
Moreover, the festival of Janmashtami, which celebrates the birth of the Hindu deity, is the perfect occasion to introduce kids to these delightful stories of Lord Krishna.
So, here are some engaging Janmashtami activities for children that will also spark their interest in Indian mythology.
Activity 1
Dress them up
Children love role-playing dress-up games. Get them into the festive spirit by dressing them up as little Krishna or Radha.
You can even prepare them for a performance based on the lives of these deities. To ensure their enjoyment, have them wear vibrant traditional attire and accessories.
Play Janmashtami-themed music and encourage your children to dance along to the tunes.
Activity 2
Treasure hunt
Place a pot of butter and other treats in a corner of your home.
Have the youngest child coat their feet in rice flour paste and run from various parts of the house to the treasure spot leaving trails.
The rest of the children in the family should follow the footprint trails to find the butter. The first one to reach the treasure wins!
Activity 3
Clay modeling
Help your child follow simple instructions to make a clay model of Lord Krishna.
To make it more creative, make the idol using colorful clay and then dress up the clay idol. Add accessories such as ornaments, a flute, and a peacock feather on the crown.
They may not be able to get the statue right but you would surely see some cute Krishnas.
Activity 4
Make buttermilk
Involve children in your family in the preparation of a large batch of buttermilk. Let them taste and assist you with the churning of the buttermilk.
Include them in simple ways as you prepare the festive prasad. You can also have them break nuts and dry fruits into small pieces and prepare small servings of flattened rice with their own hands.
Activity 5
Decorate puja room
Bright colors and anything else that inspires imagination are beloved by kids. On the occasion of Janmashtami, many families have a tradition of putting on display cradles called jhulas for Lord Krishna.
Have your children assist you in setting up the jhula and adorning them with garlands made of flowers or beads.
Afterward, they can also take turns swinging on Lord Krishna's jhula.