“Festivals promote diversity, they bring neighbors into dialogue, they increase creativity, they offer opportunities for civic pride, they improve our general psychological well-being. In short, they make cities better places to live.” -David Binder
The festival of love, light, peace, and harmony is around the corner. More than anyone else, the most excited individuals for all the festivals are children, festivals are beyond rituals for them. It is very important to celebrate all the festivals in schools and colleges. Virtual Classrooms or online education has made celebrations even more fun and convenient for the students as well as teachers. Let it be traditional schools or virtual schools, each school should celebrate festivals with full enthusiasm and joy. Through Diwali celebrations in school, students get an opportunity to be more familiar with each other's traditions and cultural beliefs. As a result of such Diwali celebrations in school, they also build respect and understanding for each other's customs and traditions. Such events not only provide enjoyment and affection to the students, but also strengthen their relationships with classmates, friends, and teachers. Diwali celebrations in school is an excellent approach for children to learn about India's rich heritage and the significance of the festivals. There are a lot of ways to celebrate this festival of lights in online mode. Virtual Diwali celebrations in school can be really fun if planned well in advance. Here are a few ways to celebrate Diwali online-
1- Organize Virtual Rangoli Competition- Diwali feels incomplete without Rangoli and it is a must-have for any Diwali celebration. Rangoli is generally made with dry colors or flowers, but in case of virtual Diwali celebrations in school this won't be a practical idea as no one will be able to enjoy it to the fullest. Organizing a virtual Rangoli doodle competition would be a better idea to make the celebrations fun. Allowing the students to explore their creative side and demonstrate their artistic abilities is one of the best ways making festivals memorable and fun for them. Teachers may also ask them to send pictures of their fancy doodles and choose someone to judge the creations. Choosing a winner would transform the activity into a competition and make it even more amusing.
2- Play Diwali Games- Playing games is never boring, infact, playing Diwali games on a video conference or online teaching platforms would bring life to the virtual party. Playing Diwali games together is a great way to bond as a group. Teachers should utilize this opportunity to strengthen their relationship with their students. Playing Diwali games is not only entertaining, but also a good way to bring out the competitive side of the students. Enjoying Diwali games like tambola, UNO, online rummy, etc are a great way to organize cherishable Diwali celebrations in school.
3- Arrange Diya Lighting Competition- Online Diwali celebrations in school could be fun with artistically painted diyas and arranging diya competitions. Teachers may arrange diya decorating competitions for their students. This will not only make the celebrations entertaining for them, but will also help them in welcoming the festival of lights into your home. Allowing students to play with rich shades of watercolors and acrylics will demonstrate their creativity and skills. Teachers can also buy diyas from the students in order to boost their morale and confidence.
4- Inspire To Help Others- Diwali is all about spreading joy and smiles. Teachers should use this opportunity to teach their students to light a diya in the life of someone else too. To raise money for charity, teachers can host a virtual fundraising or charity event. They can further donate the collected money to a charity organization or NGOs like 'Vishalakshi Foundation,' 'CRY,' etc. Making a difference in someone else's life is one of the best ways to celebrate any festival. Teaching students the right values and virtues is equally important.
5- Organize Talent Hunt Competition- Teachers should give students the opportunity to show off their hidden talents, whether it's through dance, singing, music, magic, or stand-up comedy. They can put together a mini show or can organize a mini talent hunt competition over the video conference. Encouraging the students and boosting their confidence is really important. Teachers can also ask the students to share their performance videos beforehand. They can then play those videos over the video call in order to have a better experience.
These are a few tips that are sure to make arranging Diwali celebrations in school easier for the teachers.
Happy Diwali!
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