Image: Midjourney/ MomJunction Design Team
Children enjoy learning about Lord Krishna and the fun and naughty things he was up to as a child. The festival of Janmashtami is a great time to let children learn more about the Lord. You could indulge them in plenty of fun Janmashtami activities for kids.
Not only will this encourage your child to show an interest in Indian mythology but also teach them about cultural values and the significance of the festival. Just like the blogger and mother Samridhi Shroff Sancheti does with her little one. She says, “Growing up Janmashtami was one of my favorite festivals with the yummy mithais prepared for Bhog, the strings of fragrant mogras that adorned the temple at home, the pretty swing set decorated especially for baby Krishna, who looked absolutely adorable in those special clothes and jewels especially bought for his birthday! Every Janmashtami I try to relive those same childhood memories but now with my little one turning 5, I hope to pass on that same excitement and create new memories with my own baby Krishna. We began the excitement by decorating our own dahi handis. Baby S (son) painted small clay pots with beautiful and vibrant acrylic colors and decorated them with shiny stones before filling them up with cotton to represent Krishna’s favorite makhan and malai.” Like Sancheti you too can have your child involved in some fun Janmashtami activities. And if you are looking for some easy-to-do but fun Janmashtami activities online, you have come to the right place (i). Read on to find some interesting activities here.
1. Dress up like Krishna
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Peacock feather crown
- Ornaments made using white flowers
- Flute
- Colorful dhoti
How To:
- Dress up your kid with bright dhoti and ornaments made using white flowers.
- Place the peacock feather crown on his head.
- Give the flute in his hand. This is a great Janmashtami costume for kids, which will help your child enjoy the role play.
2. Decorate curd pot
You Will Need:
- An earthen pot
- Watercolors
- Paint brush
- Peacock feathers
- Glue
How To:
- Paint the earthen pot with different watercolors using a paint brush.
- Stick peacock feathers around the pot using the glue.
Trivia3. Create Janmashtami greeting card
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Card paper
- Crayons
- Sketch pens
- Pencil or pen
How To:
- Fold the card paper to create a Janmashtami greeting card.
- Draw the pictures of the baby Krishna, flute, and peacock feathers, coloring them using crayons and sketch pens.
- Write the message ‘Wish you all a very Happy Janmashtami’ on it using a pen. Try this cool Janmashtami activity for kids and add more fun to the celebration.
4. Make Krishna’s crown
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Cardboard
- Spray paint
- Beads and sequins
- Peacock feather
- Colored paper
- Glue
- Scissors
How To:
- Cut the cardboard into the desired shape of Krishna’s crown, and paste the colored paper on it appropriately.
- Make it interesting by painting the crown golden.
- Decorate these Janmashtami crafts for kids with beads, sequins, and peacock feathers with the help of glue.
5. Craft a clay idol of Lord Krishna
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Clay
- Small ornaments and clothes for decoration
- Small piece of a peacock feather
How To:
- Guide your kid to create Krishna’s idol out of clay in simple steps.
- Decorate the clay idol with clothes and ornaments.
- Add a piece of a peacock feather on its head.
6. Draw rangoli
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Rice flour
- Water
- Bowl
How To:
- Mix some rice flour and water in a bowl.
- Guide your kid to create a simple rangoli design on the floor of your house.
- Add footsteps of little Krishna to the rangoli design.
7. Read out Krishna’s storybooks
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Storybooks, such as ‘Amma, tell me about Krishna.’
How To:
- Gift your kid story books having Lord Krishna stories, such as ‘Amma, tell me about Krishna.’
- Encourage your child to read the stories from the book.
8. Arrange Janmashtami treasure hunt
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Rice flour paste
- A pot of goodies and butter
How To:
Gather lots of kids
- Dip the youngest kid’s foot in the rice flour paste and tell him to walk from the door to five different corners of your house.
- Hide a pot full of butter and goodies in one of the five corners of your house.
- Encourage your kids to choose and follow one of the paths of footprints and find the pot.
9. Ask kids to join Janmashtami prayers
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- CDs of Janmashtami songs and prayers
- DVD player
How To:
- Play one of the CDs of Janmashtami prayers, and encourage your kids to learn the prayers.
- On the Janmashtami day, tell your children to recite the prayers.
10. Plan a visit to ISKCON temple
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- A map leading to ISKCON Temple
- A group of kids
How To:
- Find out the exact location of ISKCON Temple using a map.
- Take your kids to the ISKCON Temple on the Janmashtami to enjoy various cultural exchange activities and shows that are present in the temple.
11. Paint an aarti thali
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Plain thali (preferably steel or brass)
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
- Glue
- Markers
- Decorative items
How To:
- Clean and paint the thali with a base coat of acrylic paint. Allow it to dry.
- Decide on a Janmashtami theme for the Aarti Thali decoration. It could be Krishna, Radha, peacock feathers, or abstract Indian patterns, and use acrylic paints to draw and paint the chosen theme
- Apply decorative stickers that match the theme or symbols to make it colorful.
- Sparkle glitters or you can even use colored markers to add further details and glue small decorative items like beads, sequins, or faux jewels onto the Thali. This adds texture and makes the aarti Tthali more visually appealing.
- Allow the thali to dry completely before using it for the aarti.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the purpose of celebrating Janmashtami?
The festival of Janmashtami is observed to honor Lord Krishna’s birth, drawing people together, signifying faith and unity. The key objective of Janmashtami is to promote goodwill and ward off bad will.
2. What is baby Krishna called?
Baby Krishna is called Balakrishna or Bala Gopala.
3. How can parents involve their children in decorating a Krishna jhula (swing) for Janmashtami?
Parents may involve children in gathering and arranging flowers, crafting handmade decorations like paper garlands or origami peacocks, and expressing their creativity through painting or coloring Krishna-themed designs.
4. How can parents organize a Krishna dress-up competition or fashion show for kids on Janmashtami?
Parents can begin by announcing the event and offering instructions on how to dress up as Krishna or other relevant characters. They can establish a dedicated space with a runway or stage for children to display their costumes. Participants can be recognized with prizes in various categories or age groups, creating an enjoyable and interactive ambiance.
5. How can parents encourage their kids to participate in Dahi Handi (pot-breaking)?
Parents can motivate their children to participate in Dahi Handi by engaging them in the preparations, like decorating the handi or filling it with treats. Organizing friendly contests with siblings or friends fosters a sense of enthusiasm and togetherness. Offering rewards or incentives can motivate children to participate and enjoy the experience.
Janmashtami activities for kids help them learn more about Indian mythology and Lord Krishna. Dressing-up like Krishna, decorating the curd pot, making greeting cards, creating Krishna’s crown, making clay idols, and playing games like treasure hunts can be interesting activities for them. You may encourage them to make rangoli, read Indian mythological stories for kids, color Lord Krishna coloring pages,decorate your home, and participate in prayer on this auspicious day. Children may also like visiting or participating in cultural activities in Krishna temples that share information about Krishna’s life with engaging storytelling methods using drama, puppetry, music, and dance. We also recommend you share this story of the birth of Lord Krishna with your children.
Infographic: Interesting Janmashtami Activities For Children
Janmashtami is a significant Hindu festival that is celebrated throughout India. You can enjoy this occasion with your children by indulging in various fun activities. Scroll through the infographic below to find some exciting Janmashtami activities for your child.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Krishna Janmashtami is an Indian festival celebrated to honor the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna.
- Some fun activities for children to participate in during this festival are dressing up like Lord Krishna and reading or enacting an incident from Krishna’s life.
- Children can also indulge in creating and decorating ornaments that were used by Lord Krishna, such as a flute, crown, or curd pot.
- Making rangoli, greeting cards, or clay idols, involving children in prayers, and visiting a temple are other activities to celebrate the festival.
Illustration: Interesting Janmashtami Activities For Kids
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
Follow this step-by-step tutorial and create beautiful Janmashtami cards and other crafts and celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna in an artistic way.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Teaching kids all about Janmashtami and Lord Krishna.https://mommytimesblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/teaching-kids-all-about-janmashtami-and-lord-krishna/
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