Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as Lord Ganesha’s birthday. The festival in India is one of its kind experience! Starting with bringing home colourfully decorated idols of Ganesha to worshiping daily in the morning and evening with offerings of flowers, durva, karanji and modaks. In societies pandals are made and decorated with garlands and lights and Ganesha is worshipped for 10 days. On the 11th day it is carried through the streets with fan and fare then immersed in a river or sea. This represents a ritualistic send-off for Lord Ganesh as he travels to his home in Kailash.

Making different crafts and doing fun activities is one of the best ways to keep kids in touch with their traditions, and Ganesha festival is the perfect opportunity. Take your pick from these crafts and activities and have fun with kids.

Play Doh Ganesha

This year make Ganesha using clay or play doh at your home. Who doesn’t love playing with Play Doh? Just refer any picture of Ganesha on Internet and you can help your little one make different body parts and then assemble them to form the idol.

Ganesha Idol Workshop

Various preschools are doing workshops to help kids make an eco-friendly Ganesha. You can send your kids to one and let him have fun with his friends while learning.

Decorating Puja Place

This could get interesting. You can use water colors which are easily washable even on the marble floors; you can draw the outlines and ask kids to fill in with their paint brushes. Add the lovely flowers and leaves used for puja. They can get innovative with patterns and colours (and also a little messy, but it will be worth it, but do limit the area to keep your sanity)

Chocolate Modak

While the traditional modaks have their own charm, anything chocolate-related is bound to be irresistible for kids! You can buy modak moulds for this. Help kids with the melting of chocolate. The rest they can do in a jiffy.

Ganesh Chaturthi Aarti Plate

Make your little ones creatively busy by having them design beautiful aarti plates for Ganesh Chaturthi festivities. You can give them paint colours, mirrors, gottas and other embellishments along with adhesive. Let them use their creative minds to come up with interesting ideas to decorate the pooja plate in a unique way.

Storytelling from Ganesh’s Book

The beloved Ganesha never ceases to amuse children with all his playful antics. Read some of them to your little ones. “Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth” by Sanjay Patel & Emily Haynes and “Amma tell me about, Ganesha” by Bhakti Mathur are famous books you can go for.

Visit to the local Ganesha puja pandals

Take the kids to visit the local pandals where they put huge Ganesha idols. It’s so colourful and bustling with activity. Remember not to go in peak hours; it might be tiring and too noisy.

Check out the most happening Ganesha events happening in your city.