When I think of Diwali, my mind invariably goes to the diya lighting. Years later, I realized that small moment was tied to something bigger. We all know that Diwali is famously called the Festival of Lights, and lighting diyas is more than decoration — it’s a way of showing the victory of good over evil. Children grasp that better when it’s explained through the warmth of a diya they’ve lit themselves. This year, how about sharing some of these fun interesting facts about Diwali for some extra special moments!
1. A festival with many stories
During one of my Diwali vacations in school, I had gone to Tamil Nadu to celebrate it with my cousins. To my surprise, nobody spoke much about Lord Rama that year. Instead, over there the story was about Lord Krishna and how he defeated Narakasura. And back home in Maharashtra, we spoke of Rama and Ayodhya. That’s when it struck me—the history of Diwali for kids is not one single story. In North India it’s Rama’s return, in Bengal it’s about Goddess Kali, and in Gujarat it marks the New Year. The same lights tell many tales depending on where you are.
2. Five days, five flavors of celebration
As children, the excitement in our home wasn’t just on the main Diwali night. On Dhanteras, my father would insist on buying at least a steel plate even if gold was out of reach. On Naraka Chaturdashi, my mother made us wake up at dawn for an oil bath, which we so wanted to skip at the time. Then came the evening we all looked forward to – Lakshmi Pooja, the Govardhan feast, and finally followed by Bhai Dooj when we all cousins tie rakhis to each other – what fun! That’s when I realized—Diwali is not one day but five distinct days of rituals and meaning, again a very interesting Diwali fact!
3. Sweets, sharing, and more than indulgence
My mother had a “Diwali rule”: for every box of laddoos or Mysore pak we made, one had to be distributed to someone from our community helpers like our watchman, milkman, newspaper uncle, safai uncle, postman uncle. As kids, it felt unfair to give away what we loved. But I remember the look on our watchman uncle’s children’s faces when we handed them a handmade box full of homemade mithais and new shirts, sarees and frocks for everyone! I still remember their faces – pure happiness. But more than them, it gave me even more happiness to see them so joyous. And that’s why one of the most valuable Diwali facts for kids is this: the festival isn’t only about enjoying, it’s also about sharing and spreading joy.
4. The art of rangoli and a shaky hand
OK, let me admit it now! My rangolis were really terrible – the circles looked like ovals and the ovals like jalebis. Yet, my naani always appreciated my efforts. She said Goddess Lakshmi would still enter, because effort mattered more than perfection. Much later I understood—rangolis aren’t just art, they are symbols of welcome and prosperity, inviting positive energy into the home. For children, this simple act of playing with colors has a deeper story.
5. A festival for many faiths
One Diwali, we visited a Jain family friend’s home. It was so beautiful to see their prayers focussed on Lord Mahavira’s enlightenment – it was refreshingly a new Diwali fact for me that this festival was also celebrated like this by many. Then during one of our school Diwali parties, a Sikh classmate invited us home to celebrate Diwali their way! And explained how they did it – by marking it as the day when Guru Hargobind Ji was freed from prison. They celebrated it as Bandi Chhor Divas. For me, this was a real revelation about this amazing festival! And now I feel this is absolutely something your child too should know that Diwali is an occasion that truly brings people together and doesn’t see any religion.
6. Diyas, not firecrackers
For as long as I remember, in my house firecrackers were always banned. At most, naanu got a small packet of phuljadis just for the bachcha party. But I used to create a lot of “drama” about it as to why others burst crackers and we can’t. So my mom told me the whole story behind the lights – when Lord Ram came back from his 14 years of exile, people were overjoyed so they lit up the paths to welcome him and that’s why we too light up our home! Later commercialization happened and those diyas became fancy electric lights and also firecrackers came in – but they were never a part of the original story. So, let’s teach our children to enjoy Diwali by painting mud diyas made by local potters and light them beautifully around the whole home! That’s the true “light” of Diwali.
7. Diwali is a global festival
When my cousin sent us photos of Trafalgar Square in London lit up with Diwali lamps, my daughter was amazed. “So they celebrate Diwali there too?” she asked. That was a proud Indian moment! In fact, I didn’t even have to tell her anything. She herself figured that Diwali is not just celebrated in India but across many countries like Singapore, Fiji, Mauritius, US, Canada, Australia and many more. You should definitely tell this to your kid so she feels proud about this global festival they celebrate and also make it a point to video call and wish all your extended family members who live abroad.
8. Lessons hidden in stories
One night, while narrating the Ramayana, my daughter interrupted me. “So Rama defeated Ravana and that’s why we celebrate Diwali just like how Harry Potter defeated Voldemort, right?” she said. I was absolutely taken aback! I had never thought of it that way. Sometimes the easiest way to explain things to kids is by giving an example from their favorite story itself, it’s that simple. So this year when you’re trying to explain what “good over evil” means just give an example and explain it to your child and see how easily they will understand.
9. Every family adds its flavor
In our home, cousins competed to see whose ladoos tasted best. At a friend’s house, the big tradition was staying up late playing cards. Another family had this lovely tradition of lighting 108 diyas together. So, you see, the beauty of Diwali is that every family creates its own little ritual, and our children grow up carrying those stories. It just teaches them something beautiful, that festivals be it Diwali, Eid or Christmas are not about following strict procedure or rigid rituals but about creating your own memories and traditions and carry it on for generations!
10. A festival of new starts and good fortune
So many traditions, so many stories, so many beliefs – but still there was always this one ritual that felt very deep. My dad would put coins on the puja thali and say it was to ask Goddess Lakshmi for her blessings. Obviously, I didn’t understand its significance but later I understood the link between Diwali and wealth in India: farmers marking the end of the harvest, traders opening new account books, and families praying for abundance. That’s why people remember Diwali as both the Festival of Lights and a time of new beginnings and good fortune – something you should definitely talk about with your kids.
A note for parents
At Kangaroo Kids International Preschool, our little ones celebrate every festival with equal spirit. We have seen how doing this makes them inclusive by nature, and they start respecting every culture and tradition. We don’t just limit our celebrations to wearing traditional clothes and decorations, but also teach our learners the essence of each of these festivals and what do they truly signify. It’s always heartwarming to see them excited and ready to learn new aspects about our country’s amazing culture. Won’t it be awesome for your child, too? Then, you too should definitely consider Kangaroo Kids International School for your little one, because we do more than just teaching.
