Celebrating Diwali During Terrific Tuesday

During the October half-term, our Terrific Tuesday family activities celebrated Diwali - the Hindu festival of light.

Our Diwali Terrific Tuesday was born out of Campfire Heritage Stories, our intercultural project supported by The Rothschild Foundation.

Around 1.5 million people in the UK celebrate Diwali. This includes Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, who are likely to celebrate Diwali and other similar festivals.

During the day, visitors to the Museum took part in drumming workshops and watched Indian dancing demonstrations, tried on a sari and made Rangoli decorations - believed to represent the happiness, positivity and liveliness of a household.

One of the activities was to paint diyas - traditional Indian lamps, typically made from clay, that play a central role in the country's rich cultural and spiritual tapestry. Meanwhile Dacorum & Chilterns Potters Guild guided families in making their own diyas by getting “Hands-on-Clay”.

With help from some of the past participants of our Campfire Heritage Stories, this inclusive event brought together hundreds of people from across the Chilterns to celebrate the festival of light.