8th October 2021
Diwali lantern making
As part of celebrating Diwali in 2021, we want to encourage everyone to participate in making homemade lanterns, from recyclable materials (no glass) – please find some suggestions for materials below. This is a great opportunity for parents, elders and families to come together and work with children in making the lanterns and sharing their own childhood experiences of Diwali celebrations.
Lantern competition, procession and fireworks
There will be a procession on Saturday 30th October and you can join it at either 4pm at the Hindu Mandir or 5pm at Wellingborough Market Square (after the Christmas light switch-on) with fireworks at Eastfield Park afterwards.
If you would like more information about entering your lantern into a competition, the Diwali parade or the fireworks display please contact the organisers, Ishver Patel on ishverpatel@msn.com or Milan on info.wellingborough@uk.baps.org – the procession route can be found HERE.
Make your lantern
To give you some ideas, Sam McNern has produced the video above on how to make a lantern from an old plastic drinks bottle. Possible materials you could use are:
– Recyclable plastic bottles or jars with lid (peanut butter jars etc.)
– Recyclable/disposable plastic/paper bowls
– Colourful tissue papers (to make Diwali designs/rangoli patterns etc. to go inside your container)
– Colourful cotton rope/ribbon/wool for handle
– LED tea light/lights
– Spray paint (optional)
– Poster paints
– Scissors
– Velcro to stick tea light to lid (optional)
– Double-sided Sellotape
– PVA glue/glue-stick
– Wax or parchment paper (could also use tracing paper)
NB: For health and safety reasons we ask you not to use glass jars/containers or candle/oil lit divas/burners
We encourage you to come up with your own creative designs and use whatever recyclable materials available to you. Do remember your lanterns need to withstand the weather and possible rain on the day.
Good luck and we look forward to seeing your creative lanterns!
Downloads and links
Download traditional Rangoli patterns for Diwali Patterns HERE
In addition, you may wish to look at this alternative lantern making video on YouTube that uses an empty plastic peanut butter jar and a disposable plastic bowl.
Wellingborough Festival of Lights – Diwali Celebrations 2021 is a joint initiative from Wellingborough District Hindu Association (WDHA) and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, in partnership with Made with Many, Asha Deep and Pravasi Mandal. The film has been made possible with support from Arts Council England.