Crafts Around the World Series South Asia: India Akash Deep or Kandil (Diwali Lamp)
DOWNLOADMarch 4, 2026 - Janis Brinn, Michigan State University Extension
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EmailEnjoy learning how to make simple crafts from six of the seven continents: Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and South America.
Purpose:
Introduce youth to some simple cultural traditional crafts from around the world. Journey around the continents, learning how to make simple crafts and having fun creating.
Objectives:
- Learn the cultural history and origins of the craft.
- Inspire global exploration.
- Develop fine motor skills.
- Increase cultural awareness and creativity.
Education Standards:
- Understand the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
- Apply geometric methods to solve design problems.
Experiential Learning:
- Create a Diwali lamp by folding, cutting and taping.
Encourage thought and discussion with these questions:
What happened? What’s important? So what? Now what?
Audience:
Grades K–6
Continent: South Asia
Asia is the largest of the world’s continents. It is home to 48 countries with three of them (Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) having part of their land in Europe. Some areas of the world combine Asia and Europe into one continent called Eurasia, as they are connected by land.
South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia and includes countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. India dominates the region of South Asia and for that reason it is also known as Indian subcontinent. This region has one of the world’s largest concentrations of Hindus in the world.
Country: India
India is the most populous country in the world, home to over 1.4 billion people, twenty-two official languages, incredible natural landscapes, world-class cuisine, and a rich cultural heritage. Hinduism is India’s largest religion, practiced by nearly 80% of the population. Hinduism is considered by many to be the oldest religious tradition in the world dating back over 5000 years. Hinduism is really a broad umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices, and philosophies.
The Indian chapter of 4-H was established in 1927 in the US. 4-H India was founded in 1956 through the Young Farmers Association. The youth program was sponsored by the Bharat Krishak Samaj (Farmers Forum) Central organization was the Young Farmers’ Association, India, 32 Jorbagh, New Delhi-3, India. At that time, they had 250,000 members enrolled (ages 10-35) in 6,000 clubs. The 4-H symbol used was a five-sided shield with the letters “YFA” outlined in the central portion. 4-H India is still active today with the office located in Hadapsar eastern Pune City in the state of Maharastra, India.
Lesson: Akash Kandil (Diwali lamp)
Diwali is celebrated in many countries of South Asia, and is considered a major religious festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term “Dipavali”, meaning row or string of lights. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. People celebrate Diwali differently depending on the region and tradition. The lighting of the lamp is common in most regions. People also decorate their houses, cook regional delicacies, and meet with family/friends to celebrate.
Akash Kandil (Diwali lamp)
Time:
30-45 minutes or multiple days, depending upon the interest to learn more.
Materials:
- Scissors
- 3 sheets of colored paper (preferably two different colors)
- Glue/ tape
Procedure: How to make your Diwali lamp
- Pick your favorite piece of colored paper. We will call this ‘color 1.’
- Take a rectangular piece of that paper and fold it in half from top to bottom so that it becomes another long rectangle.
- Take your scissors and make sure that your new rectangle is in the shape of the letter ‘V’ with the ‘V’ pointing downwards.
- Leave a finger’s gap at the very top (Do not cut the sheet all the way) and cut a long line from the pointy end of the ‘V’ to the top. Do not cut it fully off. Stop just before the finger gap.
- Just like this, cut many lines from bottom to top.
- Once you have done this to the entire strip of folded paper keep it aside.
- Now take a paper of another color. We will call this paper, ‘color 2.’
- Roll color 2 into a cylinder and use tape to securely keep it in that shape
- Next, take color 1 and open it to the original rectangle it was in. You will get a long strip of paper that bends outwards.
- Now wrap color 1 around the cylinder of color 2. Secure it in place.
- Leave a finger gap at the top and bottom of the cylinder if you like.
- Next, take paper of color 2 (or any other color) and cut thin long strips of paper.
- Now begin sticking the strips of paper to the bottom of the cylinder. You may leave a finger’s gap between each of the strips
- Finally, take one strip of paper and cut it in half. Bend it into the shape of a ‘U’ and stick each end to the top of the cylinder.
- You have a Diwali lamp! Your own Akash Kandil!
Instructional Video Link:
View this instructional video to guide you in creating your Akash Kandil (Diwali lamp):
Art and Science
Ask questions and make discoveries!
Reflection Questions:
What surprised you and why? When were you the most creative, and why do you think that is? What made you curious today? What can you do with what you learned today?
References:
Kiddle. (n.d.). South Asia. https://kids.kiddle.co/South_Asia
National Geographic Kids. (n.d.). Diwali. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Diwali. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diwali-Hindu-festival
Michigan State University Community Language School
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). South Asia. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia
Acknowledgments:
The activity was developed by Michigan State University Extension Educator Janis Brinn in partnership with the MSU Community Language School, Delilah D. Pacheco Doctoral Scholar, Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education, College of Education, Michigan State University, MSU Leadership Fellow (24-25), Fulbright FLTA Alumnus, Ridhika Patel, OSU Center for Languages, Literatures & Cultures, Sandhya Shanker, and MSU Extension Miloni Rathod, Ph.D.
